Jets 2023 7-Round Mock Draft 1.0 (S3E4)

It's episode four of NFL Draft Preview Presented by Verizon. Host Ethan Greenberg and The Athletic’s Dane Brugler perform a Jets 7-round mock draft. Dane selects Ohio State OL Paris Johnson with the 13th overall pick (1:10), Minnesota C John Michael Schmitz with the 42nd pick (3:40) and Wisconsin DT Keeanu Benton with the 43rd overall pick (7:20). Dane wraps up the mock draft by selecting Appalachian State edge Nick Hampton in Round 4 (10:20), Syracuse DB Garrett Williams in Round 5 (13:20) and Kansas State RB Deuce Vaught in Round 6 (16:00).

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Episode Transcript

Speaker 1 (00:06):
Welcome to another edition of NFL Draft Preview, presented by Verizon,
Ethan Greenberg Dane Brugler. We got a fun exercise here
on this episode. It's the full seven round mock draft, baby,
except the Jets right now only have six picks rounds
one through six, so therefore it's a six round mock
draft for the New York Jets. How difficult was it

(00:26):
for you to put this list together, Dane? Well, now
that we're through free agency, you know it's that that's
a that's a big step. We have a better idea
of you know, what the needs look like, the directions
they could go with the current roster sitsum. But obviously
there's still some unknown about some of the players currently
on the roster and what's what's gonna happen there some

(00:48):
of the position battles. So, by no means is this
an easy exercise, But I think with all these picks
they at least make sense for maybe a direction that
this team could go all right without further ado. At
pick thirteen, the New York Yats go with who in
your opinion? Paris Johnson, junior Ohio State left tackle, all six,

(01:12):
six and a half three hundred and fifteen pounds of him.
This is a big but pretty fluid big man. You know,
he's got the frame that you want. He's filled out,
he comfortably carries that weight. But he also has athletic gifts.
He can recover well quick out of his stands. He's
rangey as a zone blocker. He can reach, you can seal.
He's got some meanness to him, but he's also a

(01:35):
well schooled player on and off the field. He's a
four point h gpa kid in high school, fluid in
Mandarin Chinese. He earned his degree at Ohio State in
less than three years. So this is a guy that
you know is well versed in a lot of different subjects.
But he's also very, very coachable, and he was the

(01:56):
leader of that offensive line, the offensive line room, the practices,
and he's has a lot of things going for him
with what you want at the next level. So he has.
He did play right guard as a as a sophomore,
then he moved at left tackle. His past year was
a consensus All American, So does give you a little
bit of that position flexibility, and I think more so

(02:18):
than these other tackles, he's ready to step in from
day one, and you know, regardless of what the situation
looks like on that offensive line with who's at left tackle,
who's at right tackle, who's healthy, I think Paris Johnson
and that addition gives you some options with where you
line guys up and getting the best five out there
as well as giving you that long term vision at tackle.

(02:40):
So this is a good player at a position that
this team could afford to, uh, you know, add some
more depth that that's going to help them win right away.
I think with the addition of Paris Johnson, this Jet's
offensive line goes from pretty good depth to extremely good
depth because of the position flexibility that you just mentioned
Arri Shouts and starting a guard and tackle with the

(03:02):
Jets right now, they're two starting tackles before the draft,
Dwayne Brown and McKay Beckton both coming off of injury,
and you have Elijah Vara Tucker the right guard coming
off of injury. So to add a healthy piece to
the offensive line I think would definitely behoove the Jets,
especially with the talent of Paris Johnson Junior and for
the future of the Jets makes a lot of sense.

(03:23):
So Paris Johnson Junior, the selection for the Jets in
the first round. All right, this is where things get
interesting for the Jets because reportedly the New York Jets
treated Elijah Moore and their third round pick in exchange
for pick forty two from the Cleveland Browns, which means
the Jets now have picks forty two and forty three
back to back in the second round. Who are you

(03:44):
picking Dane at forty two? Well, we might as well
just stay in the Big ten, right, And they produced
offensive lineman. And let's go a little west to Minnesota
and let's draft to Gopher John Michael Schwitz sixty three
and a half three hundred pounds, sixth year senior. Uh.
He's three years older than Paris Johnson. Um, but you

(04:05):
know he's a guy that has seen a lot of football,
played a lot of football. Uh, fifty seven games played
at Minnesota, and he got better, I felt with with
each year. Um. You know, he's has the frame, has
the mass, has the play strength. But he's also very
skilled with his hands with the base. Um. He both
in the as a pass protector, then in the run game,

(04:27):
he will drive you from your spot and and physically
move you. Understands angles. Um, has enough range so he
can he can pick off linebackers when he climbs. Um.
And it's another guy that uh checked the box in
terms of football character, in terms of the mental toughness
that that blue collar mentality. Um, you know his dad

(04:47):
is a carpenter, his mom's electrician. Like that. That's that,
that's that's real. That's not just you know saying that.
He that's the type of blue collar mentality that you
know he grew up with. And so he is a
guy that another one to step in from day one. Now,
you know, you do ask yourself, Okay, can he play
guard as well? Or is he a center only? He
only started at center in college, So that's one of

(05:09):
the questions with him. But the play strength, the finishing attitude,
I feel really good about him competing for that starting
center job right away in camp. Okay, so adding Paris
Johnson and doubling down on the offensive line. Joe Douglas,
you have a conversation with Joe before doing this box
draft or you're just playing what he likes? I say,

(05:30):
we know what Joe likes, and so let's let's lean
into it. Yeah, Okay, it's like you know, it's like
if you were cooking a meal for someone coming over.
They didn't tell you what to do, but you know
what they like. So this is what we're doing here
on this episode of NFL Draft Previews. So the Jets
have two offensive linemen in this exercise. What would you
think of the way the Jets all line shapes up

(05:51):
with the addition of Paris Johnson, with the addition of
John Michael Schmidt. Look, you want options, right, I mean
you you laid it out how injuries they took a
toll last year and what that does to the which
your offensive line and then the rest of the offense.
I mean it's a ripple effect. So adding depth is

(06:12):
never a bad thing. You want guys to compete in camp.
You want those battles, let the best man win. And
you know if even if that's not your second round pick,
but you want guys to push the other offensive lineman
in the room. And I think that's exactly what they
would do with these two additions. And you know, all
thirty two teams need more help on the offensive line.

(06:34):
This is not just a Jets conversation. But if you're
willing to invest in the trenches, I don't think you
ever really regret it. The Jets had nine different offensive
line starting combinations in the twenty twenty two season. I
think this is definitely a good way to have a
solution if the injury bug were to ever bite the

(06:56):
Jets again at that position. So with that being said,
the first two picks are Paris Johnson, junior offensive lineman
Ohio State, who, by the way, in this scenario, there's
a scenario in my opinion, where Paris Johnson doesn't necessarily
see the field a whole lot because of the play
of Dwayne Brown and McKay Beckton, assuming that they're both
playing at a high level, which is just very interesting

(07:18):
when you're talking about the thirteenth overall pick. Something to
keep in mind. Then the Jets get a start in
caliber center and John Michael schmidts Minnesota. And of course,
right after pick forty two comes to the Jets again,
like we said earlier, at pick number forty three, Dane,
you have the Jets selecting Wisconsin defensive tackle Keanu Benton.
Why is he the right pick for the Jets based

(07:38):
on player position and need? Yeah, Wisconsin native six four
ten pounds, and I think that when you look at
the Jets scheme and what they want up front. They
want guys that can stop the run but also can
give you a little bit of that upfield disruption and
that's Keanu Benton. He was a nose tackle in Wisconsin's

(08:01):
basic three man front with what they do, and so
he didn't get a lot of chances to get after
the quarterback. But during Senior Bowl practices when he was
you know, one on one, he showed a lot of
that quickness that you wanted to see. He showed some
of the movement skills and the ability to work off contact.
Even had some Russian moves in there or the cross shop.

(08:21):
So you know, there's a lot of things about the
film that you liked and then a lot of things
that the Senior Bowl practices that you liked. As him
is more of an interchangeable tackle. You wanted to play
the nose, you wanted to play over the b gap.
He can do those things and you're not drafting a
specific position specific player with Keanu Betton. He gives you
some of that versatility. So if he's still there in

(08:43):
the third round, I think this would be an absolute
steal and a guy that is going to see pretty
meaningful reps from day one? Yeah, what's his brand of football?
Because the Jets lose Sheldon Rankins in free agency, they
lose Naked Shepherd, they resigned Solomon Thomas. To tackle is
definitely a quote unquote need for the Jets. But the

(09:04):
Jets like defensive lineman, specifically interior lineman who liked to
get upfield and a pass rushing capacity. So all that
to say, what is Keanu Betton's brand of football? Does
it fit in New York Jets football? And I think
if you're just going on the tape, you're seeing a
nose tackle who you know, it's got that pushed the
pocket power. But you also see the upside of what

(09:26):
he could be in a different scheme, and that's, uh,
you know, more of an upfield scheme. And he shows
that quickness, the ability to get off off the ball,
and so you know, we saw it during Senior Bowl practices.
I think that, you know, the flashes that he did
show gives you a lot of optimism about what he
could be as more than just a simple uh you know,

(09:48):
fire hydrant in the middle of that defensive line. So, uh,
you know, he's a there's a lot to like about him,
and he's a rotational player as a rookie, someone that
you know, you feel comfortable in any situation and then
the role would only grow from there. So in the
third round, to me, this would be a home run
pick and the exactly type of guy that you're looking for. Look,

(10:10):
I think you're catering to your audience here. Two offensive
linemen cater to Joe Douglas. One defensive lineman cater to
Robert Sala. Knowledge doubled down on the defensive lineman. Round four,
pick one twelve, again catering to Robert Salah. Pick number
one twelve, the New York Jets select Nick Hampton, edge

(10:30):
rusher out of Appalachian State. And you want you want
guys with traits and production, and I think Nick Campkin
gives you that explosive first step. It's basically a race
to the corner with him, and he gets tackles off balance.
He anticipates the snap really well. He will access some
speed to power opportunities at times, really nimble, efficient as

(10:55):
a looper on stunts. You see the body flexibility, you
see NonStop per suit. You know he's a guy who's
played a lot of football at up State, and he
had forty tackles for a loss, consistently let the team
in sacks. So he's a very disruptive player and a
guy that I think, you know is sub package guys,

(11:15):
a rookie, and you know, you think about like Josh
Uch what he means to the Patriots as a more
of a role player, but he plays a pretty important
role because he's coming in on pass rush situations and
he's asked to just go get the quarterback, go hunt.
And I think that's what Nick Hampton can do. He
might not have that every down NFL role, but you know,

(11:37):
because of some of the holes in his game, but
if you're looking for a guy with the physical tools
and a guy that just pops off the screen because
he knows how to get to the backfield, that's what
Nick Hampton provides for you. Look that what you just
said probably appeals to teams like the Jets, who have
a defensive line rotation that I like to get after
the quarterback. What you just described a little bit sounds

(11:58):
like Bryce Huff in a way where the Jets ask
him to pass rush. They say, listen, you see ball,
you go get ball, and you try your tail off
to get there is there any comparison there and their
styles of play. No, I think I think you described
it well right. It's uh, you know Seaball Gheit ball
and you know, do what you can to distruct the
pocket and make the quarterback move his feet. And that's

(12:22):
what Nick Hampton did consistently on tape in the Sunbelt conference.
And you know a guy that you think can do
at the next level. So you know, you just keep
adding more of those guys. You know, it's not like, Okay,
we have haff We're good, keep adding more. You can
never have too many pass rushers, especially with the rotations
they run in that defensive scheme. So I think he'd
be a great addition to that mix. And you, when

(12:44):
you said earlier, stuck out to me that you're talking
about the future of the Jets, like the five year plan.
In terms of mock drafts, it's not necessarily who do
you need right now? Bryce Hoff is a restricted free
agent and the Jets tendered him, which means he will
essentially be on a one year colle track for the
Jets before they either have to pay him or Bryce
Hoff walks on. So this is a good solution for

(13:06):
the Jets to have at least as a part of
their team in Nick Campton, the team's fifth round pick
in the NFL Draft Preview seven round mock draft. We're
moving on to round five here, pick one forty three.
Dane is not only catered to Robert Salom, not only
catered to Joe Douglas. Now he's catering to me. This
feels like a pity pick. The Jets elect cornerback Garrett

(13:28):
Williams Syracuse, thank you, And is this a pity pick
for me or does this make sense for the Jets? No,
I think it makes sense. Yeah, it just happens. It's
a day to be a pity pick. I'll accept it.
It just happens to appease you as well. So that's
you know, it's two birds. But like Garrett Williams, if
not for his ACL injury back in October, we'll be

(13:49):
talking about him as a potential top sixty pick, right
a second rounder maybe. But now he's got that discount
sticker on him because of his midseason injury, and as
is the medicals. You know, the team's obviously got a
better chance to understand the knee um and in his
rehab at the combine. As long as there's no questions
about that any long term lingering issues. Uh, you know

(14:11):
you feel good about drafting Garrett Williams at this point.
We're in the fifth round. You know, we're we're at
a point in the draft where you know you make
investments in in talented players and that you know, maybe
for one reason or another, they fell. Uh. And Garrett
Williams one of those guys because of the ACL injury.
He's here, he's available. Um. But this is a guy
on tape that has outstanding footwork at the top of

(14:33):
his routes, a really loose mover. Uh. You know he
the ball production was outstanding he as a as a freshman. Uh,
he led the acc and passes defended. So um and
uh uh. He actually had his first interception back in
twenty twenty was a pick six against Trevor Lawrence. The
only pick six Trevor Lawrences throne. Uh, Garrett Williams has.

(14:56):
So this is guy's played a lot of football. He
gets his hands with the football war the Captain Sea
on his jersey proudly. I mean, he was a big
part of that locker room. So as long as the
knee's okay, the doctors sign off. I think this would
be a nice little investment here for the future of
the fifth Look, you said a top sixty pick if
he didn't hurt his knee. I don't know. Smells like

(15:18):
a top ten pick if you ask me. I'm again numbkin.
But Garrett Williams as a as a Syracuse fan as
much as there could be for Syracuse football. I'm not
the biggest Syracuse football fan, but I try to watch
the games when I can. He's definitely one of the
players who popped for the Orange throughout the course of
the last couple of years, especially this year. So with
that being said, let's put a ball on this puppy

(15:40):
seven round mock draft. The jets final pick in the
twenty twenty three NFL Draft comes in the sixth round,
pick two h seven, and they go to the backfield
with Duz vaugh and the running back out of Kansas State. Yeah.
I thought about doubling up with another Syracuse back, but
you know it's it's not, you know, making too happy.
There's let's go with Let's go right exactly. Uh Deuce

(16:04):
Vaughan from Kansas State. Uh, look he's you know, the
size is what everyone talks about. So it immediately stands
out five five even, not five five and a half
five five even. Um so, just rare, rare size. But man,
he is fun to watch. He's he's a space back.
You know you want him, um, a satellite back. You

(16:26):
want him in space, You want him away from the congestion,
let him go create that low center of gravity that
he has. The quick feet, he's always what I loved
about him because he doesn't have maybe like that elite
elite top speed, but he's he rarely runs in a
straight line. He's always drifting, always creating these difficult angles

(16:48):
for tacklers. He has a natural feel for that. Um So, yes,
do you worry about the size limitations? Yes, and in
all phases running as a runner, as a blocker, as
a receiver, you worry about the size, and that will
probably diminish his NFL role, But he maximizes every ounce
of talent that he has with these playmaking sparks that

(17:10):
will occasionally create a wildfire. He has that so uh,
you know, he doesn't have punt return experience, but I
think it's something he could do. And again, he's a
guy you want to bring in and just find find
ways to get the ball in his hands and let
him go go create. Um, that's what it's what he
does the best. You know, he's the son of a
if an NFL scout. You know, he's a small player

(17:34):
but a big heart. You know, it sounds cliche, but
it really is the case with him. So I don't
think that he's a player that you know immediately you
look at and say, oh, yeah, I when I'm on
my team, just by looking at him. But then you
watch his tape and you're like, Okay, let'st's find a
way to get this guy on a roster. Is he
the closest thing to Darren Sprowls in terms of the
way they play in the height? Yeah, there's just not

(17:56):
many guys. I think Boston Scott for the Eagles is
maybe the old only guy currently in the NFL who's
kind of in that mold. But there's not many guys Sproles,
you know, the Kansas State connection obviously, but yeah, that's Sproles.
I think it was a little bit bigger in terms
of his build and some of the role that he
could have. But you know what, if duce Vaughan is

(18:17):
able to carve out a similar type of career. I
don't think people would be too shocked if he was
able to do that. That is the perfect way to
end the seven round mock draft. I think Jets bands
would be happy with the job that you did here, Dane.
So as always, thank you so much. We'll talk to
you next week. Thanks Ethan,