New York Jets seven-round 2021 NFL mock draft: Tearing it down

After another disappointing loss to the Las Vegas Raiders on Sunday, the New York Jets need a rebuild. This mock draft gives them some much-needed talent on both sides of the ball.

The New York Jets are a bad football team. After a heartbreaking loss on a game-winning 46-yard touchdown from Derek Carr to rookie first-round receiver Henry Ruggs III, the Jets are still winless at 0-12.

For most fans, this might be a major disappointment to see their team winless at this point in the NFL season, but luckily for the Jets, there is a massive grand prize at the end of this dark tunnel they have gone through this season. Trevor Lawrence.

The “Tank for Trevor” moniker has been attached to the 2021 NFL Draft ever since Lawrence took over the starting job at Clemson his freshman year. He has been dubbed by many to be the best quarterback prospect since Andrew Luck.

The struggling Jets are in a transition phase, as a change of leadership is happening with the firing of Gregg Williams earlier this week, and Adam Gase, along with the rest of his coaching staff likely following in the offseason. The Jets will be going in a completely new direction when the 2021 season comes around.

Starting quarterback Sam Darnold has struggled mightily this season, and although a lot of the Jets issues are not his fault, his play has not been the type of production that the Jets expected of him when making him the third overall selection in the 2018 draft. A change of scenery is needed to revitalize a career that has left much to be desired.

Darnold is not the only issue on this roster as the Jets lack a ton of talent in many areas on the roster, but they have a few bright spots to help them build for the future. Rookie receiver Denzel Mims has been one of the only bright spots on the offense when he has been healthy. He has provided Darnold with a big physical playmaker that can go up and get contested throws.

First-round offensive tackle Mekhi Becton looks to be a franchise left tackle when he has been healthy. His ability to maul rushers and control the play on the line of scrimmage can’t be understated. He has been the most valuable player for the Jets offense so far this season.

On the defensive side, Marcus Maye continues to prove that he can lead the backend even without All-Pro safety Jamal Adams beside him. Maye has taken over the defense’s leadership responsibilities, and his play this season has been undervalued for a Jets secondary that has played very poorly this year.

Finally, second-year defensive tackle Quinnen Williams has lived up to all the hype that surrounded him in the 2019 draft process as he leads the Jets in tackles for loss, QB hits, and sacks this year.

With those four players, the New York Jets have begun to build a solid young core. With a plethora of draft choices this coming season, the Jets have an opportunity to add more young pieces to their core.  There is no shortage of holes on this football team but perhaps no bigger hole than at the quarterback spot, which is where the New York Jets go with for the first selection.

This mock draft was made using The Draft Network’s Mock Draft Machine.