When you maške a list of the Jetsā biggest needs, it is easy to overlook running back. It is not as glaring of a hole as offensive line, cornerback, edge-rusher or wide receiver, but the Jets definitely need to add at this position and that could come in the draft.
Despite plenty of speculation, LeāVeon Bell is not going anywhere. He will be back for a second season with the Jets after a disappointing 2019. But the Jets need š¬help behind him and need to plan for the future.
While Bell will be back in 2020, it seems highly unlikź§ely he will be a Jet in 2021. The Jets could be looking for his successor as the lead back in this draft.
In the short term, the Jets need some dešpth behind him. Both Bilal Powell and Ty Montgomery, last yearās backups, are free agents. On the current roster, the Jets have Trenton Cannon, Josh Adams and Kenneth Dixon behind Bell.
The question for Joe Douglas will be how early to take a running back. With those other needs more pressing, I donāt think he ā¤would look at running back earlier thį£an the third round, and it seems more likely to be a third-day draft priority (rounds 4-7).
If a running back like LSUās Clyde Edwards-Helaire falls to the third round, does Dougšlas pounce? Other intriguing options are Florida Stateās Cam Akers and Utahās Zack Moss.
If he waits until the later rounds, Appalachian Stateās Darrynton Evans is an intriguing small-school prāospect.
Running back is a position the Jets have largely ignored in the draft. Powell is the last productive back the Jets have drafted and he was taken in 2011. Even ź¦«Powell has been mainly a complementary back during his time with the Jets. Shonn Greene was the last lead back the Jets took, and that was in 2009.
Douglas has so many holes to filź¦Æl in the draft that he may opt to sign a veteran to be Bellās backup, but he should consider drafting his starting rušnning back of the future.