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The Jets' new regime completed its first draft on Saturday afternoon, adding four Day 3 prospects to what became a seven-player class. Overall, general manager Darren Mougey selected players at positions of need, and the process included some crafty manuevers via trade.
New York took a pair of players in both the fourth and fifth rounds. The first name off the board was Georgia receiver Arian Smith at No. 110, and Alabama safety Malachai Moore followed 20 picks later at No. 130. Then, in the fifth, two defenders from Miami -- linebacker Francisco Mauigoa (No. 162) and edge rusher Tyler Baron (No. 176) -- heard their names called.
Mougey and head coach Aaron Glenn shared thoughts on their Day 3 picks and strategy during a joint press conference in Florham Park.
Smith isn't exactly a receiver of imposing stature -- he stands 6-feet tall and weighs only 179 pounds. But what he lacks in size, he makes up for in speed. And that valuable athleticism was on full display for Georgia in 2024.
Mougey called Smith an "offensive weapon" on Saturday, and he was certainly that for the Bulldogs. As a redshirt senior last season, he led the team in receiving yards (817) and finished second in both touchdowns (4) and receptions (48). The clear goal is for Smith to serve as a high-upside threat alongside star wideout Garrett Wilson.
"I think he's a phenomenal receiver," Smith said of Wilson during his media availability on Saturday. "It's going to be a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to play and be in the same room with somebody like that. To take after him, learn as much as I can, get under their wing and work."
The Jets swapped picks with the Eagles in order to make a second selection in the fourth round, and the prospect they targeted was Moore. He was a four-year starter with the Crimson Tide, and named a first-team All-SEC player last season.
Moore is known as a high-character leader, and there's no shortage of teams searching for those depth pieces. But the Jets are most excited about his ability to play all over the field. He spent time at safety, nickel corner, and outside corner, and Glenn values his Swiss Army Knife skillset.
"What he did in college aptly shows what he'll be able to do in the NFL," Glenn said of Moore. "Having the versatility to play safety and also play nickel has always been great... Now you can start to have defensive structures, we can have people in different spots."
The team's growing trust in Justin Fields was on display during the draft, as they opted not to select a developmental signal-caller in the mid-rounds. There were moments to pounce -- Shedeur Sanders wasn't taken until the fifth round, and Kyle McCord, Will Howard, and Riley Leonard found new homes in the sixth.
Mougey was asked if the Jets considered drafting a quarterback, and said that the front office discussed "a lot" of names during the draft process. He also mentioned the possibility of adding depth at the position during the undrafted rookie signing period, and sure enough, New York later reached a deal with Missouri quarterback Riley Cook.
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New York took a pair of players in both the fourth and fifth rounds. The first name off the board was Georgia receiver Arian Smith at No. 110, and Alabama safety Malachai Moore followed 20 picks later at No. 130. Then, in the fifth, two defenders from Miami -- linebacker Francisco Mauigoa (No. 162) and edge rusher Tyler Baron (No. 176) -- heard their names called.
Mougey and head coach Aaron Glenn shared thoughts on their Day 3 picks and strategy during a joint press conference in Florham Park.
'An explosive speed element'
Smith isn't exactly a receiver of imposing stature -- he stands 6-feet tall and weighs only 179 pounds. But what he lacks in size, he makes up for in speed. And that valuable athleticism was on full display for Georgia in 2024.
Mougey called Smith an "offensive weapon" on Saturday, and he was certainly that for the Bulldogs. As a redshirt senior last season, he led the team in receiving yards (817) and finished second in both touchdowns (4) and receptions (48). The clear goal is for Smith to serve as a high-upside threat alongside star wideout Garrett Wilson.
"I think he's a phenomenal receiver," Smith said of Wilson during his media availability on Saturday. "It's going to be a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to play and be in the same room with somebody like that. To take after him, learn as much as I can, get under their wing and work."
Value in versatility
The Jets swapped picks with the Eagles in order to make a second selection in the fourth round, and the prospect they targeted was Moore. He was a four-year starter with the Crimson Tide, and named a first-team All-SEC player last season.
Moore is known as a high-character leader, and there's no shortage of teams searching for those depth pieces. But the Jets are most excited about his ability to play all over the field. He spent time at safety, nickel corner, and outside corner, and Glenn values his Swiss Army Knife skillset.
"What he did in college aptly shows what he'll be able to do in the NFL," Glenn said of Moore. "Having the versatility to play safety and also play nickel has always been great... Now you can start to have defensive structures, we can have people in different spots."
No draft capital used on QB
The team's growing trust in Justin Fields was on display during the draft, as they opted not to select a developmental signal-caller in the mid-rounds. There were moments to pounce -- Shedeur Sanders wasn't taken until the fifth round, and Kyle McCord, Will Howard, and Riley Leonard found new homes in the sixth.
Mougey was asked if the Jets considered drafting a quarterback, and said that the front office discussed "a lot" of names during the draft process. He also mentioned the possibility of adding depth at the position during the undrafted rookie signing period, and sure enough, New York later reached a deal with Missouri quarterback Riley Cook.
Continue reading...
