2021 NFL Draft: Jets, Panthers fill QB need in three-round mock draft
2021 NFL Draft: Round 1, 23rd overall
player. 30. Pick Analysis. Miami (FL). Jaelan Phillips. 23. Scouting Report. EDGE
Under the direction of new head coach Robert Saleh, the New York Jets will look much different on the defensive side of the ball. Up front, Saleh will likely feature an attacking defensive line filled with penetrating players who can create pressure on the quarterback. Led by Quinnen Williams, the Jets are sitting pretty good on the interior. However, they need a lot of help on the edge.
Expect the Jets to be aggressive in the edge rusher market in free agency, but they could still easily take an EDGE prospect early in the 2021 NFL Draft. In this mock draft scenario, Jaelan Phillips stands out as a strong fit for the team at No. 23.
Phillips has been rising up boards all season long, as he stepped in at Miami and make an immediate impact on the defensive line. The former star recruit did not have the dominant college career that many expected him to have, but he was able to get his career back on track with the Hurricanes last season and needs to be taken seriously as a first-round prospect.
Phillips is a long, powerful and athletic edge rusher who can make an impact against both the run and as a pass rusher. He explodes off of the ball in an instant, shows strong hands at the point of attack and can dip around the edge on his way to the quarterback. The Jets need to find impact talent at the edge rusher position and Phillips stands out as a great fit for the team in this range.