Here is an early look at some of the top pass rushers who could go in the first four rounds of the 2021 draft.
Gregory Rousseau, Miami (6-7, 265 lbs.)
His true freshman year ended after two games due to an ankle injury, so he was red-shirted. He returned in 2019 with a vengeance with 15.5 sacks and 19.5 tackles for loss. However, Rousseau opted out this season, so there isn’t a ton of film on him with the Hurricanes. It would have been helpful to see what he would do for an encore in 2020. Nonetheless, with his rare combination of size, speed and athleticism, he should be the first edge rusher off the board. In addition to his pass-rush skills, he’s very disruptive to the QB’s passing lanes with his length.
Carlos Basham Jr, Wake Forest (6-5, 285)
As a junior in 2019, he had 11 sacks and 18 tackles for loss. According to Wake Forest, he had 112 quarterback pressures over his sophomore and junior campaigns, which is obviously an impressive number. This year, he had just 5 sacks, but he played only six games. He’s not necessarily an elite edge rusher who can consistently bend the corner under offensive tackles, but “Boogie,” as he is known, can beat opponents with a terrific bull rush, a great motor and really good technique.
Kwity Paye, Michigan (6-4, 272)
This story is from the February/March 2021 edition of NY Jets Confidential.
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This story is from the February/March 2021 edition of NY Jets Confidential.
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FIRST DOWN- A lot of potential, but a lot to learn
There is a lyric in an old song by the rock group Chicago that sums up where Zach Wilson is right now:
IN HIS OWN WORDS WITH DEFENSIVE COORDINATOR JEFF ULBRICH - Ulbrich breaks down Jets' defensive personnel
(Marcus Maye) can do it all. I would feel comfortable with him (at free or strong safety). He’s a guy that, to me, he can play deep, he can play the half field, he can play the middle third, he can do that and you feel comfortable with it. I think he’s got range, speed and athleticism. I think he’s got ball skills and instincts to be a deep safety. But I think he’s got enough size and girth and want-to and courage to play in the box. It’ll be fun to utilize all the things that he does. He can cover tight ends; he can cover some of the wide receivers in this league.
Dan's Minicamp Diary
Becton bombarded with weighty questions
Saleh calls Wilson ‘relentless' as a worker
QUESTION SESSION WITH QB ZACH WILSON
Jets hope initiatives will increase winning edge
Aside from adding as many good players as possible to help the Jets improve, coach Robert Saleh and GM Joe Douglas are trying to turn over every stone to find extra ways to give their team a winning edge, and two examples of this were announced over the course of the offseason, with the additions of a game management coach (Matt Burke) and the installation of an Athletic Care and Performance Department. Let’s take a closer look at these two moves and how they might help the Jets:
Dan's Spring Camp Diary
This time of year for learning, experimenting, not stats
AUDIBLES-Saleh doesn't cave on offseason work
Tom Brady might be wrong about this one.
SAFETIES
Justin Simmons, Broncos 6-2 • 202 pounds • 27 years old
OFFENSIVE TACKLES
Trent Williams, 49ers 6-5 • 320 pounds • 32 years old
LINEBACKERS
Lavonte David, Buccaneers 6-0 • 226 pounds • 26 years old
