CBS Sports’ Pete Prisco has the Jets taking a quarterback and an edge rusher in the first round of the 2021 NFL draft in his latest mock draft.
Prisco has BYU quarterback Zach Wilson as the second quarterback off the board, with the Jets taking him second overall. Prisco believes Wilson has some Aaron Rodgers to his game and that the Jets will move on from Sam Darnold.
Wilson balled out at his pro day on Friday with Joe Douglas, Robert Saleh and Mike LaFleur all watching. He showed that he has the talent to make off-balance throws and touch passes, as well as velocity.
The BYU product had a phenomenal junior season in 2020. After winning the quarterback competition in the summer, Wilson led the Cougars to an 11-1 record, their best mark since they went 14-1 in 1996. He threw for 3,692 yards, 33 touchdowns and only three interceptions.
The Jets have another first-round pick at No. 23 via the Seattle Seahawks. With this pick, Prisco has the Jets getting an edge rusher in Oklahoma’s Ronnie Perkins. Prisco said Perkins would give the Jets a nice one-two punch on the edge with Carl Lawson on the other side of Robert Saleh’s defense. Prisco added that the Jets could go with a receiver, too.
Perkins was Second-team All Big-12 in 2019 and 2020. He was caught with marijuana in his system before the 2019 Peach Bowl and was suspended for it. The suspension lingered into the 2020 season, which caused him to miss the first five games.
At 6-foot-3, 247 pounds, Perkins is a bit undersized to play defensive end in the NFL. That could be improved upon, though, once Perkins becomes part of an NFL strength and conditioning program.
Perkins fits in Saleh’s 4-3 defense, and he has proved that he can get after the quarterback with 16.5 career sacks at Oklahoma.