Is Joeckel an option for the Jets in the first round? (Photo: US Presswire)
By Ryan Alfieri, Editor
Now that the season is over for the Aggies, Luke Joeckel has had time to finally make a decision regarding his future:
I’ve been able to confirm from multiple sources that A&M offensive tackle Luke Joeckel has made the decision to enter the 2013 NFL Draft
— Billy Liucci (@billyliucci) January 8, 2013
This hardly comes as a surprise, as Joeckel is projected to go as high as the top-five. Most scouts project him to be an even better prospect than Matt Kalil was last year, who was selected 4th overall by the Vikings.
Joeckel does just about everything right as a prospect. He is great with his hands, has good feet, anchors well, can drive off the ball, and has the athleticism to keep up with speed rushers.
For the Jets, Joeckel makes little sense. The Jets would have to trade up far into the top five picks at the cost of valuable picks that the Jets desperately need. Sure, it would be nice to have a pair of great tackles, but the Jets have much more pressing needs than right tackle. Austin Howard had a nice season and could be retained at a reasonable price.
If the Jets decide to fill their pending hole at right tackle through the draft, they should use a third-round pick or later. The Jets have too many needs to waste their first-round pick (and more if they trade up) on a tackle.
Tags: Luke Joeckel, new york jets, NFL Draft
