The New York Jets can continue to focus on the defensive side of the ball with their first-round pick, and it wouldn’t be surprising if they did so at No. 18, which is currently the Indianapolis Colts' pick they received from the Sauce Gardner trade.
Aaron Glenn has made it clear that rebuilding his defense is a priority, as it has been among the worst units in football this season.
The Jets are in a position where they need to take the best player on the board, but there’s still reason to believe they’ll pick based on fit.
Matt Johnson of Sportsnaut predicted that would be the case, predicting the Jets to select CJ Allen, a linebacker out of Georgia.
“It is double-dipping on defense, with the Jets adding another building block for their front seven. CJ Allen brings great athleticism for the position, and he combines that with excellent football IQ, leadership, and a strong tackling ability. Pairing Reese and Allen together would be a massive step toward rebuilding New York’s defense, creating a unit that can support the quarterback of the future,” he wrote.
This would be about getting better on the most important side of the football. We can’t ignore how bad the defense has been any longer.
Allen wouldn’t need to carry the defense on his own, but he’d give New York another young piece to develop alongside some OK pieces.
If the Jets go this route, it would reflect a long-term view of the roster. At this stage, that’s exactly what they should be doing.
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