After spending a season getting beaten and battered along the offensive line, and especially at both tackle spots, expect Jets GM Joe Douglas to consider taking another tackle with one of his first two picks in the upcoming NFL draft.
Should the Jets choose to take one in the first round, Pete Skoronski of Northwestern will undoubtedly be an option, but will he last until pick number 13?
A coveted player out of high school, Skoronski drew interest from Michigan, Notre Dame, Penn State, Iowa, Stanford, Illinois and Duke. In the end, the Illinois native chose Northwestern.
In three seasons at Northwestern, Skoronski surrendered just five sacks on 1,258 pass block reps. In his final collegiate season, he allowed just one on 474 pass plays. And more than just a one-trick pony Skoronski is also a force in the run game.
Skoronski wins more with technique than overwhelming strength at this point in his career but that could change with some time in an NFL strength and conditioning program. In pass pro, Skoronski’s quick feet allow him to work well against speed rushers.
Do enough homework on the tackle and you’re bound to find plenty of observers commenting on his arm length. While shorter arms aren’t ideal, we’ve seen other tackles transition just fine to the pro game if their skill set is up to par, which it appears Skoronski’s are.
Even if tackle Mekhi Becton were to find a way to stay on the field in 2023, taking an OT early makes plenty of sense as Becton could be shifted over to right tackle if need be.