DEFENSE
Toledo DT Darius Alexander (6-4, 305)
In free agency, GM Darren Mougey attacked the depth on the defensive interior with the additions of Derrick Nnadi, Byron Cowart and Jay Tufele. Alexander is an interesting prospect, having transitioned from OT to DT for the Rockets. He elevated his draft stock with an impressive Senior Bowl week performance. In 58 games (27 starts), Alexander had 127 tackles, 22 TFL, 9 sacks and 13 PDs. The athletic Alexander, who has good length and power, could become a three-down player in the NFL. He will turn 25 in August.
South Carolina S Nick Emmanwori (6-3, 220)
Will Emmanwori still be on the board when the Jets are scheduled to pick 10 selections into Round 2? The Jets signed Andre Cisco in free agency and he’ll look to get back to his ball-hawking ways with the Green & White. Tony Adams also returns, chess-piece Isaiah Oliver re-signed and youngsters Jarius Monroe and Jaylin Simpson are also on the roster. A first-team All-American and team captain last season, Emmanwori is a physical freak who led the Gamecocks with 88 tackles and added 4 INTs, 3 sacks and 6 PDs. He had success throughout his collegiate career, earning Freshman All-American honors in 2022 after an 85-tackle campaign. In 2023, he paced the defense with 10 PDs. He can thrive in the box but has good ball skills and Emmanwori has the it factor. The Athletic’s Dane Brugler wrote of Emmanwori in the The Beast: “Love his physical mentality — he’d be competing in UFC in not for football.”
Landon Jackson, Edge, Arkansas (6-6, 264)
Edge isn’t a glaring need for the Jets, but they could use another young body in the rotation. Will McDonald IV (10.5 sacks last season) will be paired with Jermaine Johnson II, who will be on a mission in his return to action following an Achilles tendon injury. Jackson, who has a wingspan of 83 5/8 inches, has excellent length and his production speaks for itself. He became the first Razorback since 1994-95 to lead the defense in tackles for loss and sacks in back-to-back seasons, recording 13.5 TFL and 9.5 TFL in 2023-24 respectively, while notching 6.5 QB takedowns in both campaigns. Jackson was a team captain the past two years and is coming off a strong offseason. “He understands how to use his length to play off blocks,” said NFL Network’s Daniel Jeremiah of Jackson. “He is really, really strong. His speed to power is something that showed up in the Senior Bowl game, so I love it when you see guys kind of ace all the tests. You’re productive in the fall and then you go to an all-star game and you light it up in the Senior Bowl game.”