2018 NFL mock draft: New York Jets select Minkah Fitzpatrick in Mel Kiper mock

In his first 2018 NFL mock draft, Mel Kiper selects Minkah Fitzpatrick for the New York Jets at number six.

New York Jets fans are probably aware of this, but just in case you aren’t, I will tell you. It is mock draft season, so time to look at another 2018 NFL mock draft. It’s that time of year when everyone across the NFL landscape tells us who is going to be selected and when. We will be doing our own mock drafts later on, but we start with these evaluations.

Whether you like his work or not, most of you are familiar with Mel Kiper. He was probably the first to be deemed a draft expert, though he has no experience as a player, coach or scout. Kiper came up with his formula for evaluation and he has been a fixture on ESPN ever since. Love him, hate him or something in between, you will always know what Kiper has to say about the latest college prospect.

More from Empire Writes Back

Tonight, we take a look at the first of several mocks that Kiper will put out from now until the draft. He and Todd McShay basically have dueling mocks that are released weekly until Roger Goodell announces that the draft has begun.

In his initial offering (via Gang Green Nation), Kiper goes away from the ever popular quarterback choice and instead opts for a cornerback. That cornerback is Minkah Fitzpatrick from Alabama:

"Fitzpatrick is the top cornerback and safety in this draft. He could play either position. He was primarily a safety at Alabama but he covered receivers in the slot and on the outside, and he consistently made plays. New York took safeties with its top two picks last year (Jamal Adams and Marcus Maye), so Fitzpatrick would be a corner for the Jets, who have an opening with Morris Claiborne a free agent this offseason. This is another spot to watch for one fo the top cornerbacks."

A couple of things here. First, the only way this becomes a viable scenario is if the Jets fix the quarterback position through free agency. I don’t mean with a stop-gap player, I mean with Kirk Cousins. He’s the one guy they can get where if they do, they don’t need a high draft pick on a QB. The rest of the options still require the Jets to pick a quarterback. Even Sam Bradford.

Next: Jets player evaluations on the defensive line

If quarterback is fixed, cornerback is a viable choice. Please don’t go with this cornerback. He spent his time at safety in college. That’s one issue. The other is, and I unfortunately have to say it, is that he is from Alabama. Many Jets fans now have Milliner’s disease. We haven’t had a long enough break from Alabama DB’s to choose one, yet.

Home/New York Jets