With less than two weeks until the 2020 NFL Draft, Jets GM Joe Douglas will be putting the finishing touches on his draft plan -- his first ever in his current position. The first-round pick -- many experts are saying it's between a wide receiver or offensive tackle at No. 11 -- will be the major concern for everyone.
But there are other needs out there for Douglas to fill with the eight picks he owns for this year's draft.
One of them is at the cornerback position, and that's a given when you break down this Jets defense from 2019. It was an area of concern all year, as injuries and poor play plagued the unit. Still, defensive coordinator Gregg Williams managed to make something out of nothing with his secondary.
Douglas will be sure to use some draft capital to help out that department, and it could be coming early after that first-round pick. As of now, the Jets have one starting corner they can trust in Pierre Desir, who joined the team in free agency. With Trumaine Johnson and Darryl Roberts out, though, another starter needs to be named.
The Jets do have internal options like Bless Austin and Arthur Maulet. But are they trustworthy enough? Douglas should want to see more competition at training camp, so here's who he could target in the draft to provide more depth at corner -- and potentially find himself a rookie starter in 2020...
Alabama CB Trevon Diggs
The younger brother of Pro Bowl WR Stefon Diggs, Trevon is considered to be somewhat of a raw prospect. But the intangibles -- instinct, uber-competitive nature -- are all there for this player that could be a late first-rounder.
The Jets, though, could be lucky and find Diggs at their slot in the second round when it's their turn to pick. He'll need some work on fundamentals, but his tape for the Crimson Tide proves that he can match up with any receiver. And given his wide receiver background, he has a feel for what routes are being run in the first place.
With his brother now playing for the Bills in division, Diggs might be the perfect pick for Gang Green, as some brother bragging rights would be happening twice a year. But overall, a press corner that Williams could use in an aggressive nature knowing Jamal Adams and Marcus Maye are at safety is the perfect situation for Diggs to play in to start his NFL career.
LSU CB Kristian Fulton
He's another press corner that has solid speed (4.46 40-yard dash) and has allowed a 40 percent completion rate over his career. That's what Williams would love to see from a starting cornerback in his defense.
However, there are some off-the-field concerns with Fulton that can't go unnoticed. He was suspended for the entire 2017 season after he had someone else provide a urine sample for him during a PED test. He claimed it was because he used marijuana two days before, and thought he'd fail the test.
But that was years ago and Fulton has since been a solid player for the Tigers. His 14 passes defended with one interception and 38 total tackles his senior year in 2019 proves that quarterbacks don't like throwing to him, and when they do, it is a hard battle for the receiver.
Video: What grades do the New York Jets get in free agency?
Mississippi State CB Cameron Dantzler
Dantzler's slow 40-time (4.64) didn't help his draft stock at all, which is why he might fall. But that doesn't mean teams don't like his really solid fundamentals and tape, enough to make him a late first-rounder.
Dantzler has the height at 6-2, but at 188 pounds, teams will likely want him to put on weight. If that can happen and he fills out more to match up with bigger NFL receivers, Dantzler could develop into a solid starting corner with ball skills and good tackling abilities already there.
In his junior season, Dantzler collected two interceptions, eight passes defended and 40 combined tackles.
Auburn CB Noah Igbinoghene
The Jets have two third-round picks thanks to the Leonard Williams trade with the Giants. And Igbinoghene could be one of these selections.
He's pretty fast with a 4.48 40-yard dash, and more importantly, he is a very aggressive corner that has shown results with that style of play. Igbinoghene might be 5-foot-11, but at 200 pounds, he isn't easy to shake.
Igbinoghene still needs to work on his fundamentals, and might not be a starter right away. However, a camp battle will be the true test of that.
Virginia CB Bryce Hall
This is another long shot to be a starter in his rookie season, but Hall is yet another tall, strong, aggressive corner that would work well in the Jets' scheme. And he's expected to go in the third or fourth round, so Douglas could find some help elsewhere on his roster.
But make no mistake: Hall has shown success at his position, and the ACC named him first-team all-conference in 2018 because of it. He led the FBS in pass breakups with 22 on the year and had 62 tackles, two sacks, two interceptions and two forced fumbles as well. A left ankle injury in 2019 cut his year short, which is why he wasn't able to showcase his speed and do other drills besides the bench press at the Combine.
According to NFL.com's Lance Zierlein, Hall's NFL comparison is none other than the Giants' new top corner in James Bradberry. The Jets could be looking at a steal, then, depending on if they grab him in the draft.