It is entirely possible that Jets general manager Joe Douglas will give quarterback Sam Darnold one more chance in 2021, the last year of his rookie contract.
And if that happens, Douglas would be wise to at least consider switching to second overall choice in the NFL’s 2021 Draft.
For sure, this is the projection in the last simulated draft of ESPN’s Mel Kiper Jr.
He caused the Jets to fall to fourth position, in a deal with the Falcons – and took Kyle Pitts out of Florida’s tight end in fourth position.
Here is Kiper’s analysis:
Falcons make a deal to get their quarterback. My trade-off for the deal is the switch from Bears to Mitchell Trubisky in 2017. In order to move up one spot and get No. 2 choice, Chicago gave up No. 3, 67, 111 and a third round the following year.
Therefore, for Atlanta to move up two positions, they will have to send the Jets the fourth choice, probably their second round choices this year and more choices. It’s a lot to give up, for sure, but there will be competition. The Jets must make the best deal at the table, and that means they only lose two positions and acquire first-rate assets after that.
Kiper has the Falcons going with BYU quarterback Zach Wilson – not Ohio State’s Justin Fields – in second place. Both are possibilities for Douglas, if he wants to negotiate Darnold and not end up negotiating for Deshaun Watson of the Texans.
As for Pitts to the Jets in No. 4, here’s what Kiper thinks:
Thus, the Jets descend, add priority choices and end up with one of the best players in this class. I still believe it is better to give Sam Darnold another year and improve the talent of his quarterback. The 23-year-old is too talented to give up. Darnold also never had a pass-catcher like Pitts. The 1.8m tall Pitts can line up widely and in the slot, and I would target him as a # 1 wide receiver. As I mentioned in the First Draft podcast, he will end up as my top-rated tight end of all. times. He is also extremely young – he was born in 2000 and will turn 20 when he plays in week 1. By the way, since the era of the common draft started in 1967, there has never been such a tight end. Pitts may be the first.
If Douglas remains in second place and doesn’t want to choose Wilson or Fields, he can take Oregon’s offensive tackle Penei Sewell to play in the right tackle, unlike last year’s first round pick, Mekhi Becton. Or he could take Alabama wide receiver DeVonta Smith, the winner of the Heisman Trophy.
Kiper, in this mock draft, has Smith going third for the Dolphins, Sewell going fifth for the Bengals, and Fields going seventh for the 49ers, after swapping five places in a deal with the Lions.
The Jets also have a second choice in the first round this year (No. 23), because of Jamal Adams’ trade with Seattle. Kiper has Douglas taking Michigan defensive end Kwity Paye with that choice.
And here’s Kiper’s justification for that decision:
I went short with the Jets with their first choice, and that choice could be the best defensive option available. Robert Saleh’s defense needed help at all levels. Paye is next on my board. He only had 11.5 serves in his career in Michigan, but he has athletic characteristics that the NFL teams crave, which should push him into the first round. You won’t find many 270-pound defensive ends that can move like him.
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