With the 2022 Senior Bowl underway in Mobile, Alabama, the New York Jets and Detroit Lions have a chance to get a good look at the 134 players looking to improve their stock before the 2022 NFL Draft. We have seen this kind of opportunity lead to incredible things for teams in the past, such as the San Fransisco 49ers who coached at the Senior Bowl in 2019.
The 49ers drafted Deebo Samuel after getting to spend a full week with him, and he is now considered one of the most versatile players in the NFL. The Lions drafted Jonah Jackson in 2020 after coaching him during the Senior Bowl, and he was named to the NFC Pro Bowl roster this week after Brandon Scherff had to drop out due to injury.
So the question remains: can the Jets find their own Deebo Samuel? Their own Jonah Jackson? Only time will tell. Now, let’s finally take a look at some of the players the Jets should carefully watch this week.
Trey McBride, TE, Colorado St./Jeremy Ruckert, TE, Ohio State
The first one is a duo of tight ends that can be day one starters for the Jets. McBride had a ton of production at Colorado State, finishing this most recent season with over 1,000 yards on 90 receptions. He offers more than Ruckert in terms of pure receiving prowess, and plays in the mold of Travis Kelce (with a little more speed.)
Jeremy Ruckert is another great prospect, a former 5-star prospect from Long Island, who never really had a chance to shine in a loaded offense at Ohio State. With Chris Olave, Garrett Wilson, and Jaxon Smith-Njigba among others, Ruckert never had a great chance to be a true #1 receiving threat. The little extra oomf that Ruckert offers is his run blocking, which is coveted in the Jets offensive scheme.
Chad Muma, LB, Wyoming
Chad Muma is a linebacker gifted with size and athleticism. At 6’3″, 242 pounds, he can play every linebacker position, and he is a sure tackler. Best tackler in the draft level. While linebacker is not a position the Jets necessarily need to upgrade this season, they can not go into this 2022 season with Quincy Williams and C.J. Mosley as their only serviceable linebackers.
He is a decent coverage linebacker, which is extremely important in the defensive scheme the Jets run. With Robert Saleh coaching him up, Muma could be an absolute weapon for this Jets defense. He finished this season with 142 tackles and three interceptions, showing that he can be pretty versatile.
Every Single Offensive Lineman
To be perfectly honest, the Jets got extremely lucky with the way these rosters shook out. They are able to coach up and get to know a number of top offensive lineman, including Bernhard Raimann from Central Michigan, Zion Johnson from Boston College, Daniel Faalele from Minnesota, Trevor Penning from Northern Iowa, and a sleeper in Cole Strange from Chattanooga.
Raimann and Faalele are both huge offensive tackles that are pretty raw but possess incredible physical traits. Johnson is a guard who plays physically in the run game, and technically in the pass game, and possesses the ideal frame for a guard. Penning is a guy who, like Raimann and Faalele, is an absolute mountain.
Every offensive lineman is probably worth taking a look at, but focus on these guys in particular.
Christian Watson, WR, North Dakota St.
This one is a bit of a late addition, as the Senior Bowl has already gotten underway. Watson is a big body receiver, standing at 6’5″ and weighing 208 pounds. He didn’t have the greatest numbers in his Senior year at North Dakota St., but he has already been flashing on the practice field in Mobile.
Watson finished the season with 43 receptions for 800 yards and seven touchdowns. While these numbers don’t jump off the page, he fits almost exactly what the Jets are looking for at receiver. He plays big, and would add another deep threat next to Elijah Moore and Corey Davis. He has good deep speed, and he draws defensive pass interference penalties by blowing by defenders on occasion. Maybe worth a look later in the draft.
In sum, every player on their roster is worth taking a good look at. They need depth at every position, and they got very lucky at every position with the way the rosters shook out.
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