LISTEN | Jets Mock Draft - Part 1 (4/21)

you know mock drafts. Draft time is really engaging for me. Obviously covering college football heavily now for the last seven years, I've seen a lot of guys, So a lot of the audience is gonna know the first round names, but I think the mock drafts that they've seen and maybe have read over the course of last couple of weeks may not really kind of sit the way I do. So I'm looking forward to seeing how we all kind of get our spots are picks and where these guys lie,

and then what's there of course for the Jets. When we get to that, let's kick things off maybe you're going first with the Bunkies here. Yeah, well, you know you would think this is clearly an easy pick, right because I think everybody's been talking about this since day one. With the first pick of the two thousand twenty NFL Draft,

the Cincinnati Bengals select quarterback Joe Barrow. L s U. It would be nice to see a little bit of a juice on draft night where he kind of maybe pulls a n Eli Manning or you know something in a sense where he's saying, look, I'm not playing for for the Cincinnati Bengals, but they do need a quarterback.

And uh, I think when you look at this draft and all the hype that's around the guys, I think, clearly, Joe Barrow, with the one year under his belt and that's really all you have of him and what he brought to the table in that one season, he's clearly a top quarterback and I think that that's where the Bengals will most definitely go. Already, you're up with the Redskins. With the second pick in the NFL Draft, the Washington

Redskins select Ohio State defensive and Chase Young. Let's think bottom line, one of the easier picks in the draft. I think Ron Rivera, the new coach for the Washington Redskins, think about his background. He played on one of the best defenses in the history of our league, the Chicago Bears. They had a fine defensive end in their own right, and Richard Dutt now Chase Young was dominant last year,

and you need that guy coming off the edge. With a guy like that on the table, and considering the Redskins just traded for former Carolina Panthers quarterback Kyle Allen is still twenty four, I think this is a safe pick. This is the right pick. So we're at the third pick now. Before I make the pick, I just want to be clear a couple of things. I think it'd be awesome if two uh were drafted by the Lions, because they could sid them if they're worried about his

health and Matt Stafford's getting up there in age. I don't think that would necessarily happen, But Anthony, you were talking about some juice on draft night. I mean two of are the Lions at three would be definitely juicy. And this is is really where I think a potential trade up for one of the quarterback Needy teams is likely when you think about the Dolphins and the Chargers.

But with the third pick in the two thousand twenty NFL Draft, the Detroit Lions select linebacker Isaiah Simmons Clemson. And the reason why I'm going Isaiah Simmons here is one. I think Jeff Acuda is a popular name here, but I didn't want to go that route, and I understand why he's mocked there when you think of that, the

lines lost Darius Slagh. But to give Matt Patricia somebody that's so versatile on defense, and of course Patricia is a Belichick disciple, to give him a tool like Simmons that can line up inside linebacker, outside linebackers, safety, nickel, I think Patricia would like to have a toy like Simmons. Okay, this is our first curve ball, because I like what you're saying about Patricia defensively, and they are definitely gonna

entertain trade proposals. But I'd say, why not Derek Brown If you're gonna talk about maybe potentially the top defensive player in the entire draft class, I think it feels a little early to me. A B actually actually did have Simmons in this spot as well. Uh interesting, right, yeah, you know why because just like you said, arm Swiss army knife, but honestly, guys, he's in a racer Okay. A Swiss Army knife is a guy that's a jack of ball trades that maybe isn't great at anything, but

good all around kind of player. Isaiah Simmons is a guy that can change a game. Right. You look at how the Jets used Jamal Adams and he does so many good things. It's not just strong safety he's good at you're not calling him a Swiss army and if you're calling him a guy that's really a high end player anywhere on the defensive football field. I think this is the player where you're saying, okay, it's almost like

drafting two players, uh for your defense. Let's go cross town now, Anthony, because the New York Giants are on the clock and the A four mentioned Simmons was widely speculated as a target for the Giants. Now he's off the board, So where did the Giants go? Look at the Giants have a young quarterback similar to a lot of teams. They got to protect him. I think they're doing a decent job on one side of their line.

They have to get complete on the other side. This is where you start, I think knocking off some of these offensive tackles being he's my number one player and if I'm the GM for the Giants. The fourth pick of the two thousand twenty NFL drafted, New York Giants select offensive tackle out of Iowa, Tristan Worth's top to bottom. He can move inside, outside, he can play right tackle.

They need a right tackle right now. They have to transform and get not only the run game but also the past protection in place, give the time they need for the quarterback. I think he's the best guy off the board. I think that they're obviously there's a lot of other guys that are close. I'm starting to like a lot of other tackles, which gets me excited about

where the Jets fall when we get into that. But I think for me as a GM, you know, his athleticism, his size, where he came and played offensive line in college, a big ten, the things that you know got him to this point. I think he's well groomed to be one of those top tackles and I'm gonna have the Giants taking him at four. Yeah, they got to get better up front. There's no doubt about that. And we'll have to see if Daniel Jones is indeed the guy.

But you hadn't needed the two thousand and twenty He definitely is, and he showed so promise last year. But to give a guy a chance who was a young quarterback, you gotta protect him up front. So I think that pick makes a lot of sense. Yeah, you're up right back to you with the Dolphins, all right, So Miami, A lot of folks have talked about them potentially trying

to move up to me. This pick is simple. With the fifth pick in the two thousand twenty NFL Draft, the Miami Dolphins select to a Tongua Valoa quarterback Alabama. To a tongue Valoa is the guy if his medical checks out. Now, I debated Justin Herbert here. I even looked at Jordan's love and his potential, but there's been too much smoke for the Miami Dolphins and a certain young quarterback from Alabama. I love it. I feel like that's the obvious answer, and I feel like it was

between two and Justin Herbert. And we'll get to the six pick right after this. Olivia landis with Bucky Brooks. Bucky following you on social media. We've seen some of the tweets that you have out there. You you list top five prospects, hidden gen's, some guys who maybe go under the radar, who are some of the top prospects that you consider hitting gen's that Jets fans can really look forward to and keep an eye on. You know

what's excuse me? It's funny because when you think about the Jets and you think about their needs, wide receiver position is the one that everyone wants to focus on, and this year on like most years, there are a ton of wide receivers that can play the play really well. I think wide receivers in the second round that you're talking about maybe a Van Jefferson, who is the son of Sean Jefferson, the wide receiver coach for the Jets. He is one of the more polished wid receivers that

we've seen in the draft. He should be available. Brandon a Yuk has an opportunity to be available in the second round. Talented wide receiver from Arizona State to Terrific. With the ball in his hands, can do a lot of different things, playing in multiple positions in a wide receiver corps kJ Hammler from Penn State a little undersized, small, but is a returner who has big playabilities super fast.

Then when you think about the big guys, the guys that are kind of stretched down and become kind of the Michael thomas Is of the world. Uh, Michael Pittman from USC is a guy that can certainly play that role, big physical playmaker, plays on special teams. Is comfortable enough kind of playing a variety of different positions that you can envision him being a number one receiver. Um Antonio Gaindy Golden from Liberty as another big receiver that can

make it happened. So in this year's draft class, the hidden gyms are really dispersed amongst a very talented wide receiver class. When it comes to the draft, a lot of people look forward to the first round, But what some people don't know is most of the importance lies in the second and third round. In those second and far beyond that as well. When you look at this draft and you look at Jets general manager Joe Douglas, how can he find success in the second half of

the draft after the first round? Yeah, you know the thing about Joe, Joe d has been will school. Uh. He spent time in Baltimore. Uh, so we learned from Ozzy Newsom and the great staff there. He also spent a significant amount of time with the Philadelphia Eagles, and he had an opportunity to build a Super Bowl champion there.

So he's seen it done a few different ways. UM. I believe when you're looking at the draft and you're building your team, uh, day two and day three really really matter, And I think the emphasis has to be finding really good players, Guys that have um a consistent track record of production, Guys who also have the physical attributes that typically play for a long time and the league size, speed, athleticism left. Those things matter, and then it's been a little lucky. It's trying to find a

couple of guys that are undervalue for whatever reason. It may be character issues, it may be injuries, there may be something that has just led them to kind of be laying around on the third day, but they're really good players. Finding enough of those guys that happened to pop at the next level, that is how you end up accumulated enough talent to really compete for championships on a consistent basis. By you mentioned how the second and

third round are extremely important in the draft. Just general manager Joe Douglas has already done some work in free agency. He's brought in UH players on the offensive line. He talked a lot a couple of weeks to go about building protection around court back Sam Donald. What other holes need to be filled for the Jets. When it comes to Joe Douglas in this trapt, you know, it's funny because when I look at the Jets and I'm thinking about Sam Donald, Uh, Joe d has has talked about

making sure he's protected. So they went out and made a couple of moves in free agency to make sure that they could shore up the protection. But you have to give your young quarterback playmakers. So on the perimeter, you have to have guys that not only expanded strikes on meeting maybe some of your bigger physical receivers that can win those balls that are comfortable going over the middle,

some of those guys. But then you also need some guys that can make it happen in the open field, meaning you can throw short passes and they can wiggle and do it. So I think most importantly in this class, I think they need two receivers. I think they need to find a big body receiver that can win and be a red zone threat. And then I think they need to find an electric playmaker, a guy that can be the anchor of the passing game, a guy that

could be a number one receiver. He's comfortable handling double teams, he is able to consistently produce six to eight receptions each week and get too close to the hundred yard mark. When you have a true number one receiver, I think that's when the offense begins to pop. I believe that the Jets are really committed to finding some playmakers in this draft. I would expect them to get multiple wide

receivers in the draft. Bucky, we already talked about some of the hidden gems that you have talked about on social media, But what about some of the top five players that you believe have the highest ceiling? Man, It's tough, like because when you talk about highest ceilings, sometimes you're talking about guys that could project as like boom er Bus guys. Um. Obviously, you guys aren't in the quarterback market because Sam Donald is established there. But Jordan Love

would qualify for that. People talk about him It's kind of like a Pat Mahomes like talent that just needs some harnessing. Need you need to kind of refine them and get them going. Outside of that, like you have guys that are passed. Rush is like Caliban chasing who can come off the edge. You love the athleticism, the fact that he's an urgent athlete. He can come and win with speed and convert their speed to power. But you just haven't seen the production. And so those guys

kind of make you worry a little bit. But um, he certainly has a lot of talent. I think another guy in the same white is your tour Gross Models from Penn State. Another Edge rusher, great length, great motor, does some interesting things coming off to edge in terms of being able to beat his man with his hand skills. But you also want to see the consistent and dominant production. Uh, those guys you worry about. And then when you go

out of the corner. Uh, there are a couple of corners because the Jets could certainly be in the market for some corners. Christian Folby from l s U has a tremendously high similar if he plays with confidence, if he's a little more consistent when it comes to his technique, he could be a guy that certainly shines on the

big stage. And then Trayvon dig Stefan Diggs little brother Stefan Diggs and the Buffalo Bills is a little bout the Trayvon is a former wide receiver that made a conversion to defensive back and he has a lot of talent, great ball skills. You just want to see him played more consistently as he gains more experience. Out of some of those players you mentioned, a few positions are positions of need for the Jets. Which one of those players you think might be a good fit for the Jets

if available? Well, you know, like there there was a lot of speculation early about the Jet need in the past. Russian Calavan Chason certainly would qualify. But I think if you go into the second round and you're thinking about filling some of those meats where we can find value would be wide receivers for sure, but also dbs. There are a ton of cornerback that could come and play. Darn A Holmes from U C l A. If you're looking for a nickel corner he can play. He's athletic,

he's talented, he's tough and gritty and competitive. He certainly can show up. You can be a buy a Cameron Danceler from Mississippi State, another guy who was tall. He's leaving, didn't run as fast as he would have liked to run at the combine, but he's certainly talented enough to be a guy that's in consideration. And then maybe a kid from Utah Jamen Johnson, very talented, corner, very technically sound,

very competitive play with a torn labor this year. He is some wine that certainly has the trades that we're really fit and will in Greg Williams defense. Bucky, thank you so much for coming on and talking a little bit about the draft with us. Really appreciate it. I hope this virtual draft treats you well. But stay safe and thank you so much, Hey, thanks for having on. Great to hear from Bucky Brooks has always Thank you to Olivia. And let's pick up right where we left off, guys,

and I'm up. With the sixth pick in the two thousand twenty NFL Draft, the Los Angeles Chargers select Justin Herbert quarterback Oregon. I feel like I was just you know, at your mercy here if you were taking Justin Herbert. I was taken to uh not necessarily sure if Justin Herbert will be there at number six come Thursday night. But in this scenario where we have no trades going on, I feel like, if you're the Chargers, this makes a whole lot of sense on the whole number of different levels.

I would not be surprised if there may be a little surprise, a little switch here where maybe Justin Herbert were to go uh to the Dolphins, although I am leaning to us so I think both of those teams will take a quarterback. I think it was one of each of those. I think that the order that we you guys have placed them fits with me. But I'm not high on Jordan's Love. I think he's a good player, but it's just to me, um, I have other guys ahead of him at the quarterback position, to be quite frankly,

before I get to Jordan's Love. Now we're on pick seven, the Carolina Panthers and back to Anthony Bets. Yeah. Well, you know when you when you look at the Panthers, you know new head coach Matt Row. I know him very well. He's about tough, physical players. He's about guys that go in there and and just buy into a system. I think a lot of people here see Carolina either in the cornerback or the defensive tackle position. Possibility here a lot of Derek Brown, and I was leaning heavily

towards him. But I think this is where we may get a little shift in a in a surprise here with the seventh pick, okay, of the two thousand twenty NFL Draft, Carolina Panthers, in a surprise twist, take Alabama and receiver Jerry Judy off the board as a receiver here. So that's what I'm going with. Guys, Teddy Bridgewaters in the house. Okay, brand new quarterback who I'm very high on. We obviously Jet fans doing pretty well. They need weapons

around him, outstanding running back. You look at their receiver position. DJ Moore Chris Samuels that these guys are good players. I think they have Robby Anderson is there. You're right, So you know when you look at this team, are they happy with their existing guys? Can they upgrade more? I think they may go another receiver. I like that. You know, in the top ten, you feel like you're bound for some shakeups and Simmons was probably maybe the closest one so far. But the Judy pick at seven,

I like that a lot. Already, you're up with the cards. With the eighth selection in the two thousand twenty NFL Draft, the Arizona Cardinals select cornerback Jeffrey Akuta Ohio State. There's the thing, Fellas, I debated in the Arizona war room. I debated Derek Brown and Jeff Acuda, and I thought about tackle. But you know, we talked to the coach, Cliff Kingsbury. Seems very happy with d J. Humphreys, who played on the left side, and they've also voiced their

positivity on right tackle justin Gilbert. He brought in a stud receiver in DeAndre Hopkins via trade this offseason. So I'll go to the other side of the ball. I have Patrick Peterson, one of the game's finest cornerback. I'm sitting here at eight picking the draft, and I have

Accuda on the clock. Listen to be Frank Fellas. Before we started the mock draft exercise today, I was thinking tackle all along for the Arizona Cardinals, but no, at no point that I think Okuda was going to drop to number eight overall, and I have a p time Joel Hall of Famer Aaron Patrick Peterson on one side, and this is a passing league. Give me your Couda on the other side. The outside definitely is strength of the Cardinals. And now I'm up with the Jacksonville Jaguars

their first of two picks in the first round. With the ninth pick in the two thousand twenty NFL Draft, the Jacksonville Jaguars select defensive tackle Derek Brown Auburn. And the reason why I'm going Brown is a couple of things. One, they lost Calais Campbell, now a member of the Baltimore Rabians. You get debatably a top five talent in this class at nine. I think it's great value. I think he feels a need for the Jaguars. And in the Jacksonville

war room, I was also very heavily considering tackle. I like it. Yeah, I think you're right. You know, Jacksonville has been pretty consistent with their team on making sure that defensively they get the job done. You know, that's a big, huge human being that can play the run, that can pass rush, that can make it differ. Friend, second bat balls down and uh again, a player that I have high regard for, could go much earlier in this draft, but suits well for a need for the

Jacksonville Jaguar. He could be the top overall prospect on some of these teams fours and Jacksonville very interesting spot right now, fellas that is definitely a team in transition, and uh he would be a nice piece along that defensive line because they're kind of starting over there and they could be in the tackle game as well. So be interesting to see how this works out. But as of right now, what do we only have one tackle

off the board. So with the tenth pick of this year's NFL Draft, that Cleveland Browns select Georgia tackle Andrew Thomas Um big, strong, nasty. UH called about five of his games over the last uh two seasons, and I'll be honest with you, guys, he just sticks out every every film you watch. I mean, he is just a road greater. Uh. It will translate at the next level. Um. Some people worry about his athleticism. I don't necessarily see that as a huge problem. I think that he's only

gonna get better. And you know, this kid's basically started day one. Since he's he's been at the program in the SEC. He's groomed, he's ready to go. And Uh, I think he's a guy to me that you know, can help the Cleveland Browns and make them a better, more complete offense. They got tremendous weapons in the past game, so the run game, I think to me is important. Uh. And also, you know, take those hits away from the quarterback. I think you're absolutely right about Thomas plugging play guy

at Georgia. Seems like he'll make that transition easily to the NFL. He came into Athens a right tackle, moves over to the left side once Isaiah wind gets drafted by the Patriots in the first round. And Abe, let me ask you this. I know he's known as a run greater, but what about his pass protection? Because I feel like no one really talks about Andrew Tamas as a pass protector. Yeah, you know, I think he's such

a big guy. He's, you know, three or twenty pounds. Uh. You know, when you think when a guy is so good at one thing, when he's such a nasty run blocker, you know, it kind of overshadows maybe a little bit about you know, what he does with his feet from from a past set standpoint and a protector. And you know, I think his game is is pretty complete. I think

he's a he's a game changer. Joe Douglas is now on the clock with the number eleven overall selection and just taking up breath here, what do you think of what we have remaining as Joe Douglas and us have time to deliberate on that eleventh pick. I think he's pretty happy right now with the names that are left to him. Uh. You know that they I'm sure have some of these tackles really close. Uh, and right now they're in a position where they get some good opportunities

and good choices on two of them. And listen, you know, his receiver a really a potential possibility with this pick with the Jets. I think a lot of people lean on the fact that, you know, hey, Joe Doug Uh, he's he starts with the inside out. He's an online guy.

That's that's You're right, he is. But again, he's been groomed by some really good gms on scenarios and and as he looks at his depth and how he's built the offensive line just to this point, do they need that top tier tackle A guy that can maybe be a mainstay, or do they get a really a game changing receiver that can take your quarterback to the next level. So again, this is not an easy decision. I think,

you know, it's from all the pundits out there. They they seem to feel because of the history with Joe that where he'll go. But uh, it'll be eteresting to see how we all kind of go about this, uh and we make these picks. Could it be McKay Beckton, Could it be Jeddrick Wills, Could it be Ceedee Lamb?

Could have been none of the above. I guess we'll find out on Wednesday's podcast of the Mock Draft between e A. Anthony Beckton, myself and that was another edition of the Official Jets podcast Draft Countdown series presented by Verizon. Thank you very much to Bucky Brooks and Olivia Land. This and guys eleventh pick coming up on Wednesday.