2021 NFL Draft: Raiders top 5 worst picks of the first round

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Alijah Vera-Tucker, New York Jets, 2021 NFL Draft

Apr 29, 2021; Cleveland, Ohio, USA; Alijah Vera-Tucker (USC) with NFL commissioner Roger Goodell over video call after being selected by the New York Jets as the number 14 overall pick in the first round of the 2021 NFL Draft at First Energy Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports /

2. Alijah Vera-Tucker, OL, USC (14th overall, Jets)

We get it.

The New York Jets want to do for Zach Wilson what they were essentially unable to do for Sam Darnold.

Moving up to the 14th pick for Alijah Vera-Tucker, who could end up playing left guard next to Mekhi Becton for them, was one of the worst picks in the first-round of the 2021 NFL Draft, in my opinion.

Look, you cannot fault the Jets for wanting to do all they can to literally protect their investment in Zach Wilson, but they gave up some prime real estate in the 2021 NFL Draft to move up nine spots to get Vera-Tucker, who is a very good player but is he worth potentially a couple of starters at other positions?

I’m not sure about that, especially considering the Jets still have a shot at a guy like Teven Jenkins and the top interior linemen besides Vera-Tucker remain on the board.

The value here for the number of picks the Jets traded up to get Vera-Tucker just does not match up.

Hopefully, he and Becton start pitching shutouts early for Zach Wilson, otherwise this trade up will look bad for the Jets.

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