Austin Jackson #OL25 of the USC Trojans (Photo by Michael Hickey/Getty Images)
The New York Jets need to hit a home run in the 2020 NFL Draft and get Sam Darnold some help. This Jets mock draft gets him some much-needed protection.
Austin Jackson
OT, Trojans
General manager Joe Douglas was aggressive in pursuing offensive line help in free agency but the work can’t stop there. It seems pretty certain that this first pick will be the tackle of their choice and here, they go with one of the draft’s biggest risers in USC’s Austin Jackson.
Jackson is a bit of a polarizing figure in draft circles but has likely the best upside of any tackle aside from Louisville’s Mekhi Becton. He’s raw from a technique standpoint and had some ugly reps against fellow potential first-rounder A.J. Epenesa of Iowa. Jackson is still supremely athletic with the ideal frame for a left tackle and at only 20 years old, it’s very likely his best football is ahead of him.
From the Jets perspective, this pick will come down to their preference of the available tackles on the board. Sitting outside of the top ten, however, likely puts them out of range of Alabama’s Jedrick Wills, Iowa’s Tristan Wirfs, and the aforementioned Becton. If that’s the case, it will be a decision between Jackson and Georgia’s Andrew Thomas.
The wild card pick here is a wide receiver to help replace the recently-departed Robby Anderson but I find it unlikely they would pass on an offensive tackle if Jackson is still on the board.