With first-round pick Darron Lee added a much-needed element of speed to the defense. He can do a lot of things for head coach Todd Bowles. Picking Christian Hackenberg at No. 51 overall was bizarre. He's a developmental quarterback with tools. There's a lot of work that has to be done with him. If it works, he can be good. If it doesn't, it's a high pick that was wasted. Jenkins is a heady player who just gets the job done. He may not be a superstar, but he's dependable. Juston Burris is a lanky cornerback who fits the system. It was a surprise to see the Jets wait so long to take someone on offense. Ryan Clady is no long a sure thing as a starting left tackle. Charone Peake was surprisingly available in the seventh round. He has tools and size that can be developed.
—Dan Kadar, SB Nation
Lee is a 6'1" 232 pound linebacker. He projects as an inside linebacker in the Jets' defense. He is known as a rangy player with good cover skills. It has been forever since the Jets had a linebacker who could cover effectively, and that is something worth having in today's NFL against top tight ends. While the Jets have David Harris and Erin Henderson under contract, neither is particularly young. Harris is on the wrong side of 30. Henderson will be 30 by the time the season starts. This team needed to get some youth into its linebacking corps.
Hackenberg is a 6' 4 3/8", 223 pound passer who had a nice beginning and disastrous ending to his college career. Fans blame his coach and his surrounding lack of talent for his poor play later in his college career; critics think Hackenberg deserves a fair share of the blame too. In what feels like the secondiest round pick the Jets could possibly have made, the Jets now have three young quarterbacks and no legitimate starters. If Ryan Fitzpatrick now realizes he is out of leverage and signs with the Jets, this selection likely means the end of Geno Smith's Jets career. If Fitzpatrick does not sign with the Jets, this likely means the end of the Jets 2016 season.
Many view him as less of a pass rusher than an edge setter. While I think there might be something to that, I personally think he was a bit underrated in terms of athleticism and ability to get after the quarterback. In some ways, I liked him better than his teammate who went in the first round.
Burris has a reputation for being a physical corner. He also has a good reputation in run support. In Todd Bowles' defense cornerbacks are important. He wants players at the position who can hold up one on one while pressing at the line of scrimmage. He does not have elite measurables, which is why he fell to day three.
Shell is a 6'5" 324 pounder. He has a number of intriguing tools and played some quality ball for South Carolina. He has a good frame for the position and good strength. His issue has been the way he moves. Interesting, he had a strong week of practice before the East-West Shrine Game where there were reports he had shed some weight.
Edwards averaged 42.8 yards per punt during his college career. He was born in Australia. His selection continues the Jets tradition of Australian punters after Ben Graham's stint with the team from 2005 through 2008. The seventh round is a spot where I like taking a kicking specialist. The odds of hitting on a pick are generally low. This is one place where you can legitimately find a long-term player.
The valuations on Peake were all over the place, but there were some pundits who had him as a second day pick. At 6'2" and timed in the 4.3 range for the 40 yard dash, he certainly has the physical attributes to be successful in the NFL.