Joe Douglas continued to focus on the Jets offense Friday night in the second round of the NFL draft, giving new quarterback Zach Wilson a playmaker to go along with the protector he got him Thursday.

The Jets selected Mississippi wide receiver Elijah Moore with the No. 34-overall pick. Douglas, the team’s general manager, chose to add another piece to the offense despite glaring holes on defense at cornerback and linebacker. The Jets have now used their first three picks on offense and have six picks left on Saturday.

Moore was projected as a mid-to-late first-round pick, so the Jets were celebrating when he dropped to the second round. That is why Douglas turned down offers to trade back and acquire more picks.

“We really didn’t think Elijah had any chance to make it to us where we were picking today,” Douglas said. “To get a player of his caliber sitting there at 34, I really feel like we were sitting here with a unique opportunity to add three players that are really top-25 players on our board. All three first-round caliber players that can be impact players for us. While you do answer the call, this was an opportunity we couldn’t pass up to take Elijah.”

Moore is an explosive receiver who projects as a slot in the pros. He had a monster 2020 season, with a school-record 86 catches for 1,193 yards in just eight games. He led all of college football in catches (10.8) and receiving yards (149.1) per game. Moore, who is 5-foot-9, 185 pounds, opted out of the last two games of the season. He ran a 4.35 40-yard dash at his Pro Day.

Moore said he prides himself in his route running.

“I just feel like football and being a receiver is more than just catching the ball and just running,” Moore said. “I feel like you have to understand what you’re doing and the art of getting open. I just take more pride into it. There’s a lot more that goes on out there than just what people see on TV.”

Douglas clearly is focused on building around Wilson after the Jets failed to do so with Sam Darnold. After taking the BYU quarterback No. 2-overall on Thursday, he traded up from 23 to 14 to take guard Alijah Vera-Tucker in the first round. Then, he added Moore.

“He’s got a great arm,” Moore said of Wilson. “I’m ready to catch a lot of touchdowns.”

This is the first time in the common draft era the Jets have taken a quarterback and wide receiver in the first two rounds of the same draft. It is the first time they have used their first three picks on offense since 2009 when they drafted Mark Sanchez, Shonn Greene and Matt Slauson.

Moore was a three-year starter at Ole Miss. He was a weapon for coach Lane Kiffin both receiving the ball and running jet sweeps and gadget plays. Moore’s maturity was questioned after he simulated a dog peeing during a touchdown celebration in 2019 against Mississippi State. The penalty he received cost the Rebels the game. Moore said he learned “countless things” from the incident and was asked about it by every NFL team, including the Jets.

“You have to learn how to be a man and when emotions get high and situations get hot, just to be under control,” Moore said. “You’ve got to best believe that moving forward that being in that position again, I’m going to think about that. It’s definitely a blessing in disguise. I probably got more out of it and I would never change it for the world. If I had to do it all over again, I would if I would understand that I would be in the position I’m in now.”

The selection of Moore calls into question Jamison Crowder’s future with the team. Crowder is carrying a $10 million salary cap charge and has no more guaranteed money left in his deal. The Jets’ top wide receivers currently are Corey Davis, Denzel Mims, Moore, Keelan Cole and Crowder. If the Jets want Moore to play immediately, that could lead to Crowder’s release.

“It adds quality competition and quality depth,” Douglas said about what this means for Crowder. “We have so much respect for Jamison as a player, outstanding player, outstanding leader. This selection of Elijah just adds more depth and more competition to the room.”