The Jets got their QB of the future, Zach Wilson, at No. 2 overall, then traded up to No. 14 to get him a blocker in OL Alijah Vera-Tucker on Day 1 of the NFL Draft. Day 2 saw the Jets add a weapon in WR Elijah Moore at No. 34, but after having three in the first three dozen, the Jets had to wait until Day 3 and selection No. 107 overall to get back on the clock.
Gang Green entered Day 3 with five picks: two fourths, a fifth, and two sixths. Joe Douglas made a move to trade the team's 143rd overall pick to the Raiders, receiving another fifth-rounder (162) and a sixth rounder (200) in return. New York then dealt that 162nd pick to the Chiefs in addition to its 226th overall pick for the 175th and 207th picks. Here's what the Jets did with those picks, along with the ones they already had:
No. 107 overall (Round 4): RB Michael Carter, North Carolina
Carter was used heavily in the Tar Heels' passing game last season, and the Jets will likely try and do the same with the dynamic backfield mate of Javonte Williams. Even with Williams in the fold, Carter finished fourth in the nation in rushing yards last season, and had the most rushes of 20 yards or more in the country in 2020. At 5-foot-7 and 201 pounds, Carter teamed up with Williams to log the most rushing yards by two running backs ever in a college football game when they torched Miami. Carter rushed for 308 yards and two touchdowns in that 62-point dominance for UNC.
Carter averaged 10.7 yards per reception out of the backfield last season, which should help Zach Wilson and a Jets team that was near the bottom of the league in receiving yards and receiving touchdowns from their running backs last season.
No. 146 overall (Round 5): LB/S Jamien Sherwood, Auburn: After Douglas traded away the 143rd picks, he took the team's first defensive pick of the draft in Sherwood. A four-star recruit out of high school, Sherwood stands at 6-foot-2 and 216 pounds, and logged 141 tackles, 12 pass breakups and one interception in his career with the Tigers. He saved some of his best performances for when the lights shined the brightest, setting a career-high with 11 tackles against LSU as a sophomore, then surpassed that mark with 14 against Georgia last season.
The Jets needed the safety depth, especially with the uncertainty surrounding Marcus Maye, who is on a one-year franchise tag. But Sherwood also can play linebacker if he doesn't pan out in the secondary, and the Jets listed Sherwood as a linebacker when announcing the pick.
No. 154 overall (Round 5): CB Michael Carter II, Duke: The Jets took two Michael Carters in 24 hours, pairing two rivals together after taking running back Michael Carter II out of North Carolina, and now Michael Carter out of Duke. Carter, at 5-foot-9.5 and 186 pounds, was primarily used as a safety last season, but anchored the Blue Devils' secondary since appearing in 12 games as a freshman. He was named Duke's top defensive back as a sophomore and junior, was named to the All-ACC Third Team last year, and impressed at Duke's Pro Day with a 4.30 40-yard time.
The Jets were able to take Carter after receiving the draft pick from the Giants in the trade for Leonard Williams.
No. 175 overall (Round 5): CB Jason Pinnock, Pittsburgh: The Jets continued to pour on the secondary selections on day three, taking Pinnock, who can be used on special teams but hopes to become a regular on the defensive side. He didn't earn a full-time starting role with the Panthers until his senior year, and went on to lead the team in interceptions with three. He comes in at six feet, 204 pounds and ran a 4.45 40-time.
New York has had success drafting corners out of Pittsburgh in the past. Remember Darrelle Revis?
No. 186 overall (Round 6): S Hamsah Nasirildeen, Florida State: The secondary streak continued for the Jets, taking Nasirildeen at the start of the sixth round. At 6-foot-3 and 215 pounds, Nasirildeen had a smaller sample size in 2020 due to a torn ACL in 2019. appearing in just two games. But his 2019 campaign was a memorable one before the injury, being named to the All-ACC Second Team as the Seminoles' leading tackler.
Another potential hybrid, New York announced Nasirildeen as a linebacker when announcing the pick.
No. 200 overall (6th round): CB Brandin Echols, Kentucky: The Wildcats now have had two defensive backs taken in the draft in two of the last three years, with Echols the latest to find a home. An durable player, Echols started every game his senior year after making 11 starts as a junior, when he earned a starting role. At 5-foot-11 and 178 pounds, Echols didn't receive a Divison-I offer out of high school, and headed to Northwest Mississippi Community College to play receiver. But he switched to defense, and found his way to Kentucky, where he logged 54 tackles as a senior.
Echols opened eyes at his Pro Day by running a 4.35 in the 40-yard dash.
No. 207 overall (6th round): DT Jonathan Marshall, Arkansas: The Jets wrapped up their 2021 draft class with an effort to beef up their front seven, taking the 6-foot-3, 310-pound Marshall. Playing in mainly a reserve role for the Razorbacks over his first three seasons, Marshal earned a starting role last year as a senior and logged a career-high 35 tackles with one sack and one forced fumble. Should Marshall make the roster, he will look to help a New York pass rush that ranked 18th in the league last season, per Pro Football Focus.
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