Mandatory Credit: Darren Yamashita-USA TODAY Sports
NEW YORK — Mike Francesa has been retired for nearly five years and doesn’t have a spot in the Jets’ Draft room, but he’s already made up his mind who the team should select in the first round.
New York holds the No. 10 overall pick, and while many analysts believe Georgia tight end Brock Bowers might be the best fit, Francesa begs to differ.
On his BetRivers podcast earlier this week, the ‘Sports Pope’ declared that the Jets should select offensive tackle Joe Alt out of Notre Dame.
“He’s probably gonna be there for the Jets. If the Jets get the good fortune of Alt being there at 10, if they don’t take him, they should be shot,” Francesa said.
“And if Alt’s there, pop the champagne corks, because that will be a home run. That will be a guy who will be a 10-year starter, maybe a 14-year starter — a multiple-time All-Pro. He is a can’t-miss player on the offensive line. Can’t miss. Right pedigree, right everything.”
Alt split time between tight end and offensive line during his first two years at Notre Dame, and said that this was helpful for his development.
Unfortunately for Francesca, it’s hard to envision the Jets switching up their draft boards based on his requests.
But he might be onto something. NFL Media’s Ian Rapoport reported Thursday that the Jets hosted Alt for a visit earlier this week.
At the end of the day, there is only one man who has say in who New York will select in the first round. And it’s Aaron Rodgers.
