New York Jets Legend Wayne Chrebet Loves the Mekhi Becton Pick and Other Draft Thoughts

The New York Jets have encountered an open door in the AFC East, and their priority number one prior to sneaking their foot in the jamb is protecting Sam Darnold.

That's why they went with Louisville strongman Mekhi Becton in the first round, and that's why legendary wideout Wayne Chrebet had his enthusiasm on full blast in the aftermath.

"You know, it's four tackles to get, or one of the top three receivers. Out of those four offensive linemen, every analyst had them in different orders. I had Becton top two," Chrebet told us. "I mean, did you see the highlights? That dude's an animal. Hitting people, then pancaking them. He could be a Pro Bowl player immediately if he is who I think he is. 6-7, 370, I mean...come on."

Now that Darnold's got his blind side locked down by the big man, Chrebet agrees with the consensus that it's fairly certain where the Jets will go with their next selection on Friday night.

"I think it's guaranteed to be a wide receiver in round two," he said. "It was always gonna be tackle-wide receiver or wide receiver-tackle."

Though he's been away from the field since 2005, Chrebet has remained in the mainstream, recognized as an innovator at the slot position. Danny Amendola and Julian Edelman, in fact, are well-known to call him the Godfather of the role in the modern NFL.

But, just because he made a life of it didn't mean it was easy from Day 1 -- Chrebet, still learning his role during his rookie year, often took a pounding.

"Someone hit me my rookie year in Atlanta -- I didn't see it, but I knew it was Brian Jordan -- and I looked up at the dome at the Macy's and sponsorship signs, and I swear I thought I was in the Roosevelt Field Mall in Long Island," Chrebet shared.

Hopefully, this next generation of Jets wideouts and punishers can learn a bit from the local kid who ALWAYS could.

12up spoke with Wayne Chrebet, thanks to a collaboration with The Players' Tribune.