New York Jets: Grading Rounds 4-7 and Overall Draft

Round five – Blake Cashman

The Jets got a pretty good linebacker with a lot of promise in Blake Cashman. He has a great work ethic and can break into the passing pocket. His two biggest strengths were definitely shown during his collegiate career. Cashman was able to showcase three solid seasons on the D-Line in Minnesota racking up 104 tackles this past season.

His 6-1, 237-pound frame is a bit of a concern but with his impressive athleticism, which he was able to showcase at the combine with a 4.5-second 40-yard dash and 4.12-second 20-yard shuttle, Cashman has the tools to develop in the pro game and succeed on a crowded New York Jets defense.

Round six – Blessuan Austin

One position that the Jets needed to so desperately fill was cornerback and they’re taking a shot with a local kid, Blessuan Austin. He’s an injury prone corner that needs to prove that he can stay on the field before even thinking about making an impact. When healthy, however, Austin can and will provide a great impact in the Jets secondary.

In 2016, he played 11 games and tallied 43 total tackles while successfully defending 14 passes. Other than that sophomore season, he’s only stepped on the field for Rutgers 14 additional times in four total years. A torn ACL is a tough injury to come back from, for a player who will have to readjust his positioning and constantly turn trying to read NFL wide receivers. That could put plenty of stress on those knees, so health is a big concern but he has the toolset to be successful.

Grade: A+ if healthy, F if not