USA Today’s Nate Davis takes the road less traveled in his last simulation sketch.
He has the Jets chasing Sam Darnold and negotiating from choice # 2, adding several game creators in the process. In this projected exchange, the Panthers reached the second position, with the Jets falling to the eighth position, at the same time that they acquired the choice of Carolina in the third round and a 2022 in the first round.
Davis has the Jets using his first choice in the Alabama Wideout Jaylen Waddle. Here is your explanation for the selection:
New York finished last in the total attack in the past two seasons and haven’t had a 1,000-yard receiver since Brandon Marshall in 2015. So, how about giving Darnold’s help, pairing Waddle with WR Denzel Mims from the second round of 2020 and giving reasonably. the young QB has a chance to succeed with genuine weapons in the attack of the new OC Mike LaFleur
Waddle is a versatile chess piece that can play in three wide receiver positions. Waddle started his youth campaign with 28 receptions, 591 yards and four touchdowns. However, his season was interrupted after he broke an ankle in the middle of the season against Tennesee.
While Waddle lost six games, he returned to the National Championship game. He was in clear pain, limping throughout the competition, but added three receptions for 34 yards.
For the choice of the second round of the Jets, Davis makes them double the skill players of Alabama by selecting RB Najee Harris.
Here is Davis’s reasoning behind the choice:
Did we mention getting help for Darnold, who had the longest run in New York (46 yards) in the 2020 season? Harris is a blunt runner, a reliable passer and capable of protection – all the attributes that would allow the new regime to determine whether or not Darnold is the savior of the franchise that the previous regime thought he was.
Obviously, that choice depends on how Joe Douglas values the running back position going forward, but the Jets general manager may have a hard time refusing Harris’ mix of power and speed.
Harris averaged 5.9 yards per load, running for 1,224 yards and 13 touchdowns. He also added 27 receptions for 304 yards and seven receiving touchdowns.