As part of The Post’s 2021 NFL Draft preview, we examine what the Jets might do at each position. Sunday: Offensive line
The Jets are about to draft another quarterback in the first round in BYU’s Zach Wilson. Will they do a better job protecting him than they did with Sam Darnold? That is now the question hovering over this franchise.
The Jets feel like they are OK at tackle with Mekhi Becton and George Fant and were encouraged by how center Connor McGovern finished the season. They do feel like they need to upgrade at guard and were unable to do that in free agency.
One of the next few picks the Jets have after taking Wilson No. 2 overall should be used on a guard. USC’s Alijah Vera-Tucker is the top-rated guard in this draft, but he may be gone by the time the Jets are on the clock at No. 23. Alabama’s Landon Dickerson and Alex Leatherwood are possibilities in the second round as are Ohio State’s Wyatt Davis and Michigan’s Jalen Mayfield.
The Jets also could draft a center and move him to guard temporarily or slide McGovern to guard. The top centers in this draft are Creed Humphrey from Oklahoma, Josh Myers from Ohio State and Wisconsin-Whitewater’s Quinn Meinerz. All of them should be Day 2 picks.
Meinerz has Joe Douglas player written all over him. A Division III player, he stole the show at the Senior Bowl and showed he can compete with top competition. A team captain at Whitewater, he would make sense in Round 3 for the Jets.
