By DOM c.
To quote sports talk personality and avid Jets fan, Jake Asman, “…with the high draft capital we have, the Jets either need to draft players that can help the quarterback or players that can get after the quarterback…”
Wise words. After watching Zach Wilson scramble for his life and face pressure down after down in 2021, that aforementioned quote is etched deep into my brain. The million-dollar question is what is the best way to “help the quarterback”?
Cincinnati will tell you it is to give the QB a plethora of ultra-talented weapons at his disposal. Tennessee will tell you that it is leaning on the run game by feeding your thoroughbred workhorse 30-35 times a game. While both of these hold merit and can easily be argued as the best solution, neither of them means squat-diddly without a good offensive line in front. A healthy and cohesive line is the glue that binds all elite offenses together. To add a punctuation mark to the previous sentence, everyone who follows the Jets knows the affinity JD has for getting right in the trenches.
The Jets line produced well above their expectations in 2021, even after being decimated by injury. JD spent high draft capital in back-to-back drafts with the acquisitions of both Mekhi Becton and Alijah Vera-Tucker. Both have shown great promise in their young careers and entering year three and year two respectively, both look like to be long-term solutions for the Jets offensive line. Not much more has to be said about either player. In 2021, we witnessed the renaissance of George Fant, who stepped in for the injured Becton and performed well, ending the season as PFF’s 39th best-rated tackle out of 85 eligible players. Fant, entering his age 30-year has one year remaining on his contract. Right behind him in PFF’s rankings was a key FA acquisition for us, Morgan Moses who started at RT all season. Moses is due for a contract and with his good season, he may have priced himself right off the Jets. Connor McGovern also played well above the curve before a season-ending injury cut short 2021. McGovern is one of the top 10 at his position. Like Fant, McGovern is also entering the last year of his current contract. After that, the Jets have clear questions. Chuma Edoga has been unspectacular yet serviceable as a swing tackle. Edoga also is entering the last year of his deal. The same can be said for mid-season acquisition Laurent Duvernay-Tardif, who filled a hole we had at RG. LDT could be brought back on a team-friendly deal and be offered the chance to battle for the starting RG spot in ’22, but his playing career is not guaranteed due to his medical license requirements in Canada. Promising guard Cam Clark suffered a potential career-threatening injury, so his future is up in the air. Back-ups Connor McDermitt and Greg Van Roten are sure to be playing elsewhere – probably the USFL or CFL. Dan Feeney was a stop-gap backup lineman whose one-year deal has come and gone. The Jets can do better than anything Feeney offers. Outside of that, the Jets have 5 developmental linemen signed to futures contracts: Parker Ferguson, Grant Hermanns, Ross Pierschbacher, Dru Samia, and Isaiah Williams – none of which are expected to come in and make their mark in ’22. So, Is O-Line a real need? Considering the depth that we need, and the contract situations faced in the short-term with some of the players plugged in to start next season – the answer is 100% yes. Again, as Asman says, we should be looking to help our quarterback. The best help can easily be had by further fortifying the trenches.
JD seems to have a keen eye for lineman prospects, and he’s got a type – big-bodied with bend and flexibility who will not only smack you in the nose and finish blocks with tenacity but who also show the elite footwork needed that allow them to move well and get into the second level. The offensive linemen in this year’s group of draft-eligible prospects are rich in talent and potential. Realistically, RG is wide open for competition right now. Barring injury or trades, every other starting spot on the line looks set for 2022. The same cannot be said for 2023 though, as we will have decisions on RT, C, and our swing tackle at minimum. Obviously, free agency is going to be the first domino to fall in the filling our O-Line needs. If history repeats, free agency is where JD will probably prioritize filling our ’22 back-ups and the draft utilized to secure both potential starting-caliber and developmental linemen.
There are roughly 8-10 offensive linemen in this draft with first-round grades (depending on who you ask and where you look) so let’s get into taking a peek at some. As always, it will be impossible to touch on all the draft prospects. The article will cover two higher-rated prospects, a mid-round target and one diamond in the rough late-round player, but with a twist. I’m going to switch it up a little bit in this article and focus on players who I think can come in and challenge at RG in year one plus have the skillset and positional flexibility to bounce elsewhere on the offensive line in year two (if need be). Like I said – as it stands right now, the only linemen currently rostered with contracts past 2022 are Becton, AVT, and Cam Clark. OL needs to be a focal point, whether through the draft or in free agency. There will be names here in the article that you are familiar with and some names you may not. The article is meant solely to be an informative tool that will hopefully entice you to research some of the players yourself and form your own opinions. That’s what we do here. Let’s get into the hog mollies.
Ikem Ekwonu
We are going to start off with my personal favorite of the bunch, Ikem Ekwonu. He is better known by all who rummage around the draft prep websites as “Icky” – which can also picture perfectly describe his play style. The dude is filthy – standing 6’4’’ and weighing in at 320 pounds, Icky is an absolute mauler, especially in the run game. Besides being a mountain of a man, his get-off is as good as any lineman entering the NFL draft in some time. Along with his aggressive nature and mentality, Icky plays with great leverage – always staying low and using his strong legs and hips to anchor and drive opponents out of the way. He also implements good use of his hand jabs to stop defensive linemen basically in their tracks and since moving over to LT has really developed good hand-fighting technique and strategy to combat the shiftier, faster, and more skilled edge rushers he faced. Icky uses quick, fluid footwork in run sets, allowing him to move freely to the second level or to be effective when pulling. Blocking in space is never going to be an issue that makes him a fit with the Jets zone blocking scheme. Icky also boasts some intangibles that can’t be quantified at a pro-day or at the combine: He’s a former HS state champion in wrestling – wrestling is always a positive for the OL-men as it helps them better understand balance, leverage, and how to maintain heavy hips. He’s also a very cerebral athlete – choosing to play at NC State over many Ivy League offers. His football IQ, ability to learn and adapt paired with his size and aggression made him into one of the most feared players in the ACC the past couple of years. Originally playing both RG and LG, Icky transitioned to LT for NC State and did it well. There is still some room for improvement in passing sets and with his initial kick step. His yearn for contact sometimes works against him in 1v1 pass sets, getting him a little off-balance and susceptible to speed rushers. The versatility that Icky offers makes him an ideal fit for the Jets if they choose to fortify the trenches with one of their 1st rounders. Icky can slide into the RG position and be a day 1 starter with the flexibility to bounce out to tackle after Fant’s contract expires next season or if we get caught with the injury bug (again). The upside with this player is as huge as the tree trunk legs he stands on – the sky is the limit for Ikem Ekwonu…
Zion Johnson
Have you ever heard of Davidson College? Yeah, me either. Well, Zion Johnson has – in fact, that is where the Boston College Senior Bowl invitee started his career. A 0-star recruit accepted the only offer he received out of high school, and that was from the FCS school in North Carolina. Johnson’s dedication to really learning what it takes to get stronger and how to play offensive line while at Davidson. Two years at Davidson earned him two All-Conference selections before transferring to BC in 2019. Davidson is known for running the now-archaic triple-option offense. His time there helped him develop from a big, clumsy kid into a unanimous All-ACC guard (after he transferred). Standing 6’3’’ and weighing in at 316 pounds, the 5th year senior has really made a name for himself in the ACC and he has garnered a lot of buzz around the draft circles. Coming from a pro-ready style offense at Boston College, Zion has the skill set to come in and play effectively in the NFL right from the get-go. Johnson’s 2021 PFF grades are at or near the top of all eligible IOL in both pass protection and in zone run blocking, which I’m sure is music to the ears of LaFleur, Salah, and JD. Johnson is credited with allowing only seven pressures in over 700 snaps played and has the flexibility and experience lining up at both guard spots and left tackle in college – though, with sub-34-inch arms, Zion may be best suited to stay inside in the NFL. A smooth mover with a stout build, Johnson excels both in run sets and in pass protection. His solid base and low center of gravity allow him to anchor down and help form a good, clean pocket for his QB in pass pro. Not flawless, Johnson did show some reps against a fast Clemson D-line where he got beat with good counter rush moves – something that will need to improve and can definitely be coached up at the next level. Johnson is both strong and nimble for a big fella – using picture-perfect technique to hit and drive opponents while run blocking and enough aptitude and feel to know when to release to the second level. Zion may not be the freakiest athlete of all the draft-eligible linemen, but he also has fewer glaring holes than his counterparts. He is very seasoned and game-ready – Zion will be 24 by the time April’s draft rolls around and he has never missed a game in college, showing elite mindset and durability. Johnson very well could be plug and play at guard for the Jets for the next 8 years if JD were to pull the trigger come draft day. The Jets’ coaching staff will get a good look at him at the Senior Bowl and if what they see is what is all over the game film for Johnson, it would make a lot of sense for the Jets to call his name in the second or third round.
Tyler Smith
Tulsa University produced some big games in 2021 despite a very pedestrian 7-6 record. Most notably was a last-minute loss early in the year to #7 Oklahoma State 28-23. Oklahoma State’s stout D was one of the best in the nation at pressuring the QB led by freshman sensation DE Collin Oliver. On that day, Oliver was manhandled by a little-known redshirt sophomore named Tyler Smith. One would say this was Smith’s coming out party, but true followers would beg to differ. Smith’s name became a hot commodity in the AAC following the COVID-shortened 2020 season, and in 2021, he continued to take his game to the next level and continued to impress. A mammoth standing 6’5’’ and weighing in at 322, the 21-year-old Smith takes power and drive-blocking to the next level. Pretty simply, he uses his large, well-balanced frame and ridiculous upper body strength to maul defenders. He blocks with ferocity and finishes blocks like his life depends on it. A very good athlete for his size, Smith shows good lateral movement on reach and pull blocks. Compound that with his sheer size and tenacity, it usually results in the defender being bulldozed and/or pancaked. His athleticism and ridiculous upside show off even more in pass sets. Lightning-quick feet and first movement allow Smith to adjust his kick steps and stay mid-lined with and mirror the speed rushing defenders. Bullrushes have little luck against him as well – his strong hand and arm action neutralize the defenders almost immediately. Being just 21 years old and only playing high-level competition for 2 years, Smith still has work to do when discussing the mental side of the game. His vision and awareness at times seem to get lost – resulting in some missed assignments, most notably on stunts/twists and on overload blitzes. Smith lost a lot of pass rush battles on his inside shoulder, expecting guard help or by overcompensating to make sure he wasn’t beaten to the outside. Being a large man, he plays with a high pad level at times – although he was stronger than the average defender at the college level, this will not be the case in the NFL – so learning to play lower will be a necessity if he is to develop and reach that sky-high potential. Smith played solely LT in college, although a move to guard or to RT may be what works best for his game. Though he may be labeled with the “developmental” tag coming into the league, his ceiling is as high as any other OG/OT prospect in the draft. JD and The Jets could fall in love, as we all know you can’t coach size. It would take at least a 4th round pick. In an ideal world, JD adds a C or a G in free agency and drafts Smith let him learn behind George Fant for a year before handing over the reins in 2023.
Dohnovan West
Finishing up the OL with another late-round gem who would fit our offensive scheme perfectly is Dohnovan West. West, a 6’3’’ 315-pound junior from Arizona State holds the same traits as seen with the other prospects we highlighted – versatility. Through two seasons under Herm Edwards at ASU, Dohnovan has started every game – playing LG, RG and C. West shows excellent lateral movement and long speed for a man over 300 pounds – he should test near the top in 40 yard/20 yard/3-cone of all the draft-eligible prospects. His short-area quickness allows him to get ahead and gain a step, allowing West the ability to move his hips to wall off and seal blocks. His speed also pays dividends when climbing to the 2nd level and allows him to get ahead and lead on screens. Another OL with a strong wrestling background, West uses it to better his anchor and gain leverage in pass pro. Every blocking decision West seems to make looks calculated and precise with little to no wasted movement. West is mainly an option for zone-based run schemes, as his power/power blocking leaves a lot to be desired. West needs to learn to play with more balance – he gets caught lunging at times which an NFL defensive lineman will make easy work of. He also needs to sustain and maintain his blocks a little better and a little longer – another reason why a man blocking scheme may not be a perfect fit. Although he may be scheme-specific and not on some draft boards because of that – the Jets are a zone scheme that could use help at both center and at guard. Dohnovan has vocalized an open willingness to play center at the next level and he has the talent to do so. Taking a flyer in the later rounds (5th or 6th) wouldn’t be such a reach for a player with multiple position flexibility. In fact, with some time spent in the weight room getting stronger while getting coached up by John Benton, West could turn out to be a real steal. A true late-round darling.
A fact that is tried and true, most elite offenses in the NFL are anchored by good lines. Linemen are the ones opening the holes for the running backs, who protect the quarterbacks and give the receivers the necessary time to get in and out of breaks. This is a fact now acknowledged by NFL executives, with blind-side offensive tackles and now offensive guards getting paid their respective dues. If the game is won and lost in the trenches, assets must be secured for the men who battle in said trenches. Imagine what Zach Wilson and his incredible arm talent could do with an extra 3-4 seconds of time with nobody breathing down his neck or him having to scramble and improvise. The sky is the limit and I fully expect JD to hold the same sentiment come draft day. Linemen drafted in ’22 will be the foundation pieces in ’23 and beyond.
Oh, how dark it was before the dawn!
Let’s go Jets…
Hi Dom C,
I wish I had have come over here sooner! Good job. I really enjoyed reading this article and get to know some of the possibilities. Can’t wait for LB’s. I’d really like to know what you think of Jesse Luketa… whether he’d be a good fit for us and where you think he might go in the draft
Cheers