Niner Noise
FanSided

2020 NFL Draft: 32-team Round 1 mock after Week 4

By Peter Panacy

(Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images)
(Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images) /
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ATLANTA, GA – DECEMBER 01: Georgia Bulldogs mascot Uga is seen during the 2018 SEC Championship Game between the Georgia Bulldogs and the Alabama Crimson Tide at Mercedes-Benz Stadium on December 1, 2018 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Scott Cunningham/Getty Images)
ATLANTA, GA – DECEMBER 01: Georgia Bulldogs mascot Uga is seen during the 2018 SEC Championship Game between the Georgia Bulldogs and the Alabama Crimson Tide at Mercedes-Benz Stadium on December 1, 2018 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Scott Cunningham/Getty Images) /

The New York Jets are still looking to get the most out of second-year quarterback Sam Darnold. And while it’s been tough to evaluate his performance in 2019, given he’s been out for much of the year with mono, an always-wise move is to provide the best kind of protection for him up front.

So far, Gang Green has surrendered 13 sacks on the season — fifth most in the league. And a lot of those are coming off the edge, which doesn’t spell good things for Darnold, once he returns.

Enter Georgia offensive tackle Andrew Thomas.

Thomas would be an immediate upgrade over Jets right tackle Brandon Shell, who is a free agent in 2020 anyway. And over the long run, Thomas could be the eventual replacement for veteran left tackle Kelvin Beachum, who is on the wrong side of 30 years old, and he’s also a pending free agent this upcoming offseason.