Should The Jets Draft A Receiver With The Tenth Pick?

PROS:

With Free Agency passing by, the Jets have signed and re-signed many key impact players, but none being WRs. With how Free Agency went, with gaining an Offensive Lineman, it looks like Edge will be the pick at four. Now with the tenth pick, the Jets have a lot of freedom with the fact that they don’t have to worry about the OL anymore. Also, keep in mind that the Jets drafted Zach Wilson in 2021, who’s heading into year two. This is major! … because the Jets have gone through so many QBs in the last decade. Ex QB Sam Darnold is a perfect example of this, due to a team not knowing his skill level and his development, because of a bad supporting cast. Darnold was later traded in 2021, when NY drafted Wilson. Joe Douglas, the GM, is and probably should be on the hotseat, if Wilson can’t succeed because of his support, which could lead to him being traded in 2-3 years. As a fan, “No More Rebuilds!” The time is now! Corey Davis could be traded after next year, and then you’re left with only Elijah Moore, Mims and Berrios being your top three WRs. After 2021, putting all your trust in Mims returning to his 2020 form and the guy you drafted, would be a mistake. With how injury-prone players were last year, it would be a massive gamble heading into 2022. The pros of drafting a WR at ten, is that you could possibly get the best one, and then you would now have more depth with Mims or Berrios being WR four or five.  Also keep in mind, the Jets haven’t drafted a WR since 2001, where they drafted Santana Moss. It’s at least worth a try!

CONS:

With the addition of Tight Ends C.J Uzomah and Tyler Conklin, it would almost be silly to waste a top ten pick on WR, when only two WRs would be on the field at a time, while running two Tight End sets. With re-signing Berrios, it doesn’t make sense to draft a WR, when you just paid him to play. With the Jets defense ranked 32nd, it makes sense to draft and fix their problem for good with players such as Kayvon Thibodeaux, Sauce Gardner and even Nakobe Dean. This year’s Draft is a defense-heavy draft, where great defensive players will be taken early and late. The first round is where plug-in-play players are found. Also, keep in mind this year’s WR class is deep and is one of the fastest running groups, but it doesn’t compare to recent drafts. This means there are no standout players, like there were last year, such as Ja’marr Chase, Devonta Smith or even Jaylen Waddle. Compared to the defense, the jump skill-wise from the first round to second, is not significant, but on defense, there is a decent jump. Don’t get me wrong, the defensive players in the second round are great, but they won’t have the same impact that round one players will. 

FINAL THOUGHTS

Though the question remains, I will be celebrating regardless of what happens in the draft. If the Jets fix the defense, great, but if they do, I hope they have full confidence in the WRs in the second round, almost like they did with Mims, only with a different situation where the outcome will hopefully change.  It would be smart to wait until the second round where players like George Pickens, Jahan Datson, Christian Watson or even Treylon Burks who could still be available. While it would be smart and safe to take “your guy” at ten, you’re getting better value for so much later.

Where do YOU think they will take a Receiver?