The 2017 NFL Draft kicked off on Thursday night in Philadelphia and both the New York Jets and the New York Giants scored big with their first round selections. The Jets were handed LSU safety Jamal Adams on a silver platter with the sixth overall pick and the Giants took Ole Miss TE Evan Engram, a speedy tight end that is a mismatch nightmare for opponents.
Now, what to do to follow up on those successes. The Jets have three picks on Friday night – one in Round Two (39th overall) and two in Round Three (picks 70 and 107). With open holes all over their roster, GM Mike Maccacgnan should stick to his approach of selecting the best available player on his board, regardless of position. We think he’ll do that, or at least we hop he will. Last year, reached for Penn State QB Christian Hackenberg in Round Two but recovered by taking LB Jordan Jenkins of Georgia in the third round.
This year, Maccagnan has a lot to choose from as there are still plenty of quality players on the board. Who do we think he’ll go for? Well, with the seventh pick in Round Two, he will likely be looking at Alabama OT Cam Robinson, Kansas State DE/OLB Jordan Willis, TE Jake Butt of Michigan, CB Kevin King of Washington, RB/WR Curtis Samuel of Ohio State, Notre Dame QB DeShone Kizer, Ju-Ju Smith Schuster a WR out of USC, CB Chidobe Awuzie of Colorado and Alabama LB Ryan Anderson to name a few. Oklahoma RB Joe Mixon, who has off the field issues, could be tempting as well.
In Round 3, expect Maccagnan to try to enhance his secondary further with players such as Florida CB Teez Tabor, Fabian Moreau of UCLA or Sidney Jones of Washington. That compensatory pick, No. 107 comes in handy as well with an OT such as Taylor Moten of Western Michigan or Florida State’s Roderick Johnson.
Giants GM Jerry Reese might have enough playmakers in the passing game after the addition of Engram and WR Brandon Marshall as a free agent last month. What fans want to see is some help on the offensive line, a running back, defensive tackle and a linebacker. Well, they just might get their wish.
In the second round with the 55th overall selection, Reese could grab Troy OT Antonio Garcia, Michigan DT Chris Wormley, LB Zach Cunningham of Vanderbilt, Ohio State LB Raekwon McMillan, LSU DT Davon Godchaux, RB Samaje Perine of Oklahoma and OL Dorian Johnson of Pitt.
In Round Three, Reese has the 87th overall pick and if RB D’Onta Foreman of Texas is there it wouldn’t be a reach. Florida State DE DeMarcus Walker and Florida DT Caleb Brantley are two another value picks here.
Both teams are off to good start here at the draft. Let’s see if they can keep the momentum going.