NY Jets take underrated tackle in NFL.com mock draft

New York Jets fans may be sleeping on this tackle prospect

News flash: the New York Jets are likely to take a tackle in the first round of the NFL Draft.

If you’re a Jets fan and don’t know that, you’ve been living under a rock.

Recent mock drafts have given the Jets many of the top tackle prospects in the draft, from Olu Fashanu to Taliese Fuaga and even Joe Alt. One player who hasn’t gotten any mock draft love, though, is Alabama right tackle J.C. Latham.

Finally, though, Lance Zierlein of NFL.com mocked Latham to the Jets. Here’s what he wrote: “The Jets must find a way to protect Aaron Rodgers next season. Latham can help in that regard and will also bolster the team’s running game as a crushing drive blocker.”

Zierlein’s mock draft is highly controversial in many ways. After choosing Caleb Williams at No. 1, he skips over Drake Maye and has Jayden Daniels going No. 2 to the Commanders. That sends Marvin Harrison Jr., to the Patriots and Rome Odunze to the Cardinals.

The Falcons take Maye in a trade with the Chargers. The Giants take Fuaga while Alt goes to the Titans. The Chargers take cornerback Terrion Arnold and the Bears Malik Nabers.

Only two of those picks are typical — Williams at No. 1 and Alt at No. 7. Still, Latham to the Jets makes a lot more sense than most Jets fans think.

Joe Blewett has Latham ranked as his second-best tackle in the draft. He prefers Latham over both Fashanu and Fuaga. Mock drafters don’t seem to agree, though, as NFL Mock Draft Database’s consensus big board has Latham ranked at No. 19 overall and the fourth-best tackle, down from No. 16 a few weeks ago.

If this trend continues, the Jets may be able to trade down, recoup some draft capital, and still select Latham. That may just be an ideal draft scenario for them.

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