NFL First Round Mock Draft, Seahawks get defensive

Pick #20: New York Jets – Darron Lee, OLB, Ohio State

Ryan’s old team in New York would no doubt love to grab another young quarterback to compete with Geno Smith for QB-of-the-future honors, but this may be too high for Connor Cook, and if they can keep Ryan Fitzpatrick fiscally happy they may not see the need to pull this trigger at this point.

Instead they add another outstanding piece to their defense. Lee is slightly undersized at 6’1″ 235 pounds, but the former safety used that to his advantage, excelling in pass coverage while covering a lot of ground sideline to sideline. And the force with which he plays the game belies his size, as he’s a vicious tackler and adept at shooting gaps to make plays in the backfield or getting after the quarterback.

Lee was often used on blitzes for the Buckeyes and racked up 110 sacks his last two years in Columbus. It’s that potential as a rush linebacker, combined with his outstanding coverage and tackling skills, that make him such an attractive piece for the Jets.

Next: On the clock: Washington