New York Jets: Assessing the plethora of team needs before the 2021 NFL Draft
5. Offensive Line
In the 2020 NFL Draft, the New York Jets selected Louisville offensive tackle, Mekhi Becton, with the 11th overall pick. Becton played very well as a rookie, but the rest of the offensive line could still greatly improve.
Last offseason, the New York Jets brought in multiple free agents to try to bolster their offensive line, but none of them really stuck. Guys like Alex Lewis, Greg Van Roten, Connor McGovern, Pat Elflein and George Fant are all solid NFL veterans who can hold their own, but none are real difference makers like they seem to have found in Becton.
So while keeping some current pieces in place wouldn’t be the worst thing in the world, the New York Jets really could find four new starters on their offensive line. From left guard to right tackle, Joe Douglas and the Jets will certainly hope to find some more impressive pieces to round out their offensive line for their new quarterback.
If the New York Jets opt against selecting a quarterback at the top of the 2021 NFL Draft, they could very well grab another impactful tackle in Penei Sewell to protect Sam Darnold. Whether it is round one, later in the 2021 NFL Draft, free agency, or all of the above, the New York Jets have to find some studs for their offensive line this offseason.
6. Wide Receiver
In the 2020 NFL Draft, the New York Jets also spent a fairly early selection on former Baylor wide receiver, Denzel Mims. The team also signed free agent Breshad Perriman and relied heavily upon veteran Jamison Crowder.
Mims failed to find the end zone in his rookie campaign, catching just 23 balls for 357 yards. Perriman didn’t perform as the Jets had hoped, racking up just 30 catches for 505 yards and three scores. While Crowder was impressive throughout the 2020 season, he is only under contract through next season with a potential out this offseason.
Needless to say, the New York Jets will need to find some new offensive weapons for whoever is under center. Mims should hopefully take a jump in 2021 if fully healthy, but the team needs to add more pieces for their future. The 2021 NFL Draft is once again stacked full of impactful receivers that the New York Jets will have to choose from.
If the Jets can add another young piece in the 2021 NFL Draft and maybe even sign a solid veteran wideout like A.J. Green, T.Y. Hilton, Sammy Watkins or Marvin Jones, they will definitely have an improved arsenal for whichever young quarterback is at the helm for the New York Jets.
7. Running Back
The New York Jets utilized 37-year-old Frank Gore as their starting running back for the majority of the 2020 season. And while guys like La’Mical Perrine and Ty Johnson showed flashes of being productive backs, the Jets could look to the 2021 NFL Draft to find a workhorse.
Every single team remaining in the NFL playoffs have invested at least one top-three round pick in the running back position, as our own Sayre Bedinger pointed out on Twitter.
So while I’m not suggesting the Jets take a running back with the second overall pick in the 2021 NFL Draft, grabbing a promising running back prospect with one of the other four picks they have during the first two days of the draft may be beneficial for their offense.