While many fans (including this oddball), pundits and armchair GM’s have been projecting the New York Jets to take an offensive tackle with the seventh pick in the draft, there’s no guarantee it will happen.
After all, if the Jets were to employ a “best player available” approach, it’s not out of the question that a player such as Michigan DT Mason Graham or RB Ashton Jeanty end up being the pick. That would of course, take tackle out of the equation.
So if the Jets do land a blue chip player in round 1 who doesn’t play offensive tackle, who might bet the next best option when they’re next on the clock?
Minnesota offensive tackle Aireontae Ersery should garner plenty of consideration if he’s still in play at that point. The Minnesota left tackle was a monster in pass pro with the Golden Gophers last season, allowing just a single sack on 419 pass pro reps.
He’s not as strong in the run game, but that’s not to say he can’t get the job done. That’s why many are projecting him to land in Kansas City with the 31st pick of the draft. In fact, Chad Reuter of NFL.com has Ersery going to the Chiefs at 24.
But anything can happen on draft day and some believe Ersery will still be waiting to hear his name called early in round two.
In fact, ESPN analyst Matt Miller has Ersery going in the middle of round three with pick 75. While we don’t have a crystal ball, we feel pretty confident in saying Ersery will not be around that long.
But if he were to fall somewhere between the projections of Reuter and Miller, that could mean he’s staring the Jets in the face at 42. If he is, they should definitely and give themselves a pair of bookend tackles who can keep their QB’s upright for years to come.