The New York Jets have done a great job under Joe Douglas reshaping the roster. There is still a lot of work to do, as he took over a team that was in pretty rough shape. But, there is no denying that the roster is in a better spot now than when he took over.
He and Robert Saleh are on the same page when it comes to building this thing up and the Jets should continue being more competitive this upcoming season. With the draft capital that they possess, New York has another chance to upgrade even more of the holes on their roster.
Right now, the Jets are projected to pick five times in the first 69 selections, with two picks in each of the first and second rounds. It would not be surprising to see at least two or three of those selections be on the defensive side of the ball.
Saleh has a defensive background before moving into a head coaching role and could use some more pieces to get his unit to the next level. The signing of D.J. Reed at cornerback and Jordan Whitehead at safety will help bolster their secondary. Now, it is time for them to upgrade the second level of their defense.
Over at WalterFootball.com, they believe the Jets could target the middle of their defense with one of their second-round picks. Georgia linebacker Quay Walker would be an intriguing prospect for the team to select with the 35th overall pick.
Walker is one of the numerous Bulldogs from the front seven of their defense projected to go in the first rounds. He had to wait his turn to get a chance at a starting job and he made the most of it in 2021. He totaled 65 tackles, 5.5 for loss, with 1.5 sacks and three passes defended, helping Georgia win the National Championship.
Possessing the upside to develop into a full-time starter, the Jets could deploy Walker right now on early downs to help stop the run. He needs some work in pass coverage, but his instincts and reliability as a tackler would play right away in the NFL.
Despite weighing 240 pounds, Walker has very good speed and athleticism, which will help him at the next level. There are some things to clean up, but he brings experience and a high football IQ that could translate into a bigger role down the road.
