The Jets added seven new players thanks to the draft last weekend. Some picks, particularly at the top, were a surprise to folks. Not many people had Will McDonald as a top-15 pick as he was. He was ranked lower, though not by much, on many of the media big boards.
Here, we’ll take a look at where each draft pick ranked on various media big boards, including Draft Wire, Pro Football Focus, Daniel Jeremiah, Todd McShay, Mel Kiper Jr., Dane Brugler and Pro Football Network.
Round 1, Pick 15: Edge Will McDonald IV
Draft Wire: 25
PFF: 29
Daniel Jeremiah: 25
Todd McShay: 25
Mel Kiper Jr.: 23
Dane Brugler: 46
Consensus: 33
Based on these rankings, the Jets taking McDonald at No. 15 isn’t a huge reach as some folks made it out to be. McDonald was mostly a top-30 prospect with a number of top-25 rankings. The Jets loved McDonald and weren’t getting him at 43.
Round 2, Pick 43: C Joe Tippmann
Draft Wire: 65
PFF: 67
Daniel Jeremiah: 34
Todd McShay: 40
Mel Kiper Jr.: 65
Dane Brugler: 43
Consensus: 57
The big boards weren’t as high on Tippmann, but with where the Jets stood at the time, it was very difficult to pass up on Tippmann at No. 43. He did see two appearances in the top 40.
Round 4, Pick 120: OT Carter Warren
Draft Wire: NR
PFF: 140
Daniel Jeremiah: NR
Todd McShay: 109
Mel Kiper Jr.: 139
Dane Brugler: 122
Consensus: 164
The Jets got their offensive tackle here at No. 120, right around where most of the big boards had him ranked. The upside is there with Warren if he can stay healthy.
Round 5, Pick 143: RB Israel Abanikanda
Draft Wire: 129
PFF: 132
Daniel Jeremiah: 84
Todd McShay: 108
Mel Kiper Jr.: 127
Dane Brugler: 112
Consensus: 114
Daniel Jeremiah has to like this spot here for Abanikanda. His No. 84 ranked prospect was taken at No. 143. In fact, as we can see, all the big boards used here ranked Abanikanda higher than where he was selected.
Round 6, Pick 184: LB Zaire Barnes
Draft Wire: NR
PFF: NR
Daniel Jeremiah: NR
Todd McShay: NR
Mel Kiper Jr.: NR
Dane Brugler: NR
Consensus: NR
Safe to say this pick too many by surprise as Barnes was not ranked on any of these big boards, though McShay, Kiper and Brugler did include Barnes among their positional rankings.
Round 6, Pick 204: CB Jarrick Bernard-Converse
Draft Wire: NR
PFF: NR
Daniel Jeremiah: NR
Todd McShay: 325
Mel Kiper Jr.: NR
Dane Brugler: NR
Consensus: 247
Bernard-Converse did at least sneak into the big boards of McShay and PFN’s consensus board. But at this point, being outside the top 200 picks, it’s a dart throw anyway and the Jets like the versatility of JBC.
Round 7, Pick 220: TE Zack Kuntz
Draft Wire: 106
PFF: 160
Daniel Jeremiah: NR
Todd McShay: 138
Mel Kiper Jr.: 118
Dane Brugler: 159
Consensus: 147
This could be a very intriguing pick for the Jets. Draft Wire had Kuntz just outside their top 100 and almost every board here had Kuntz as a top-150 player. The Jets got Kuntz at No. 220.
