New York Jets: GM Joe Douglas hits home run in first Gang Green draft

Round 4, Pick 125: Quarterback – James Morgan, Florida International

After a trade with the Patriots, the New York Jets picked up two more fourth-round picks. With the first of those two picks, Gang Green selected insurance for Sam Darnold. It was an interesting move that caught some people by surprise. They chose former FIU quarterback, James Morgan, over more heralded Georgia Bulldogs signal-caller Jake Fromm.

New York Jets fans were shocked to see the team go with a quarterback relatively early in the draft when they already had their franchise guy. Douglas felt that they couldn’t wait any longer if they wanted to grab the former Golden Panthers captain.

Morgan finished his college career with 8,654 yards and 65 touchdowns. He showcases a big arm and gets the ball downfield with zip. Morgan also reads defenses well as he works through his receiver progressions.

Team Fit

Last season, Sam Darnold went down for three weeks with mononucleosis. His absence took down the team’s playoff hopes. The Jets were outscored 84-23 in those three games, with 14 of the 23 points coming from the defense.

Gang Green needs a backup who can come in and give the team a chance to win. Douglas and Gase feel like they can mold Morgan into a formidable backup, capable of leading the team when necessary.

Round 4, Pick 129: Offensive Tackle – Cameron Clark, Charlotte

The Jets added to their offensive line depth by selecting, well-accomplished tackle, Cameron Clark. The offensive tackle was a three-year starter out of UNC-Charlotte, who broke the 49ers record for games played with 49. In 2017, his team voted him as their offensive MVP. In 2018 and 2019, Clark was a First-Team All-Conference USA selection.

An imposing figure at 6-4 and 308-pounds, Clark showed himself well at the 2020 East-West Shrine Bowl. Although he played his entire career as a tackle at Charlotte, he projects as a guard in the NFL. Joe Douglas has an eye for an offensive line talent. It’s reasonable to believe that Clark will be competing for a starting spot soon.

Team Fit

The New York Jets offensive line was terrible over the last few seasons. No quarterback was hurried more than Darnold, the past two years. In 2019, their running game finished 31st overall in the NFL. Adding another good player for the interior offensive fills another team need.