Aaron Rodgers‘ Achilles tear prevented the Packers from picking up the Jets’ 2024 first-round pick, as the future Hall of Fame quarterback well miles short of the 65% snap threshold. But the Jets do enter this draft without a second-rounder due to the terms of the Rodgers swap.
The Packers obtained the Jets’ No. 41 overall pick, leaving the AFC East team without a choice between its first-round slot (No. 10) and third-round pick (72). The Jets would be interested in adding another Day 2 choice and would be ready to move down from 10 to make that happen. The Jets would ideally like to add a second-round pick — or at least a top-100 selection — by moving down from 10, ESPN.com’s Rich Cimini notes.
This draft’s run on quarterbacks is expected to take place before the Jets go on the clock at 10, with the Cardinals’ No. 4 overall slot potentially the place QB-needy teams will target to climb up. The Chargers have also expressed a willingness to trade down from 5. By the time the Jets are picking, Jayden Daniels, Drake Maye and J.J. McCarthy will almost certainly be off the board. That would stand to limit the interest in the team’s No. 10 pick, though Cimini adds the team is interested in selling its top choice to one of the QB-needy clubs.
This would probably require Bo Nix or Michael Penix Jr. to generate enough interest it entices the Broncos (No. 12) or Raiders (No. 13) to fork over an asset to be sure of landing one of the draft’s top six passers.
The Raiders may not have a uniform opinion of how to proceed at quarterback in this draft, with a rumor indicating their top two decision-makers are split on a trade-up maneuver. The Broncos are believed to want to move up, but they are limited regarding draft capital. Also down a second-rounder from the Sean Payton trade, Denver may be more likely to move down in hopes of Nix still being on the board. The Vikings (No. 11) have made their intention of finding a long-term passer fairly clear, and despite the franchise never drafting a QB in the top 10, it is ready to move up to acquire a Kirk Cousins successor.
A team like the Giants not selecting a QB at 10 and then considering a move back into Round 1 for a passer could be something to monitor, and a climb back into the top 10 would outflank the Broncos or Raiders. That would also be costly, as the Giants do not pick again until No. 47. The Jets also are probably not interested in dropping that far, as they have a rather important Rodgers-centric season approaching.
If the Jets stick at No. 10, they would have a bevy of first-round tackle options awaiting. Joe Douglas is likely interested in adding a long-term option to initially work behind Tyron Smith and Morgan Moses, SI.com’s Albert Breer notes. This would be an interesting move for a team with its GM and HC on hot seats, as a first-round tackle would not have a direct path to the starting lineup in 2024. Of course, Smith’s injury history — and the injury trouble the Jets have encountered up front over the past two years — will obviously make an O-line move worth considering. Joe Alt visited recently.
Then again, if one of this class’ top three receivers is still on the board at 10, that would be difficult to pass on. The Jets have hosted Rome Odunze on a “30” visit and has another meeting scheduled with Malik Nabers. Georgia tight end Brock Bowers may also be in play for a team committed to maximizing Rodgers after a lost year.
On the O-line front, the Jets are set to meet with Washington’s Troy Fautanu on Wednesday, Bleacher Report’s Jordan Schultz tweets. Already visiting the Jaguars, Ravens, Bengals, Steelers and Eagles, Fautanu is expected to be one of several tackles to come off the board in Round 1.
Some teams are projecting Fautanu as a guard, per NFL.com’s Daniel Jeremiah, who views the former Huskies standout as a tackle. ESPN.com’s Mel Kiper Jr. agrees with the teams that slot Fautanu as a guard. Fautanu spent most of his Pac-12 career at tackle, starting only two career games at guard. The Jets gave John Simpson a multiyear deal and are moving Alijah Vera-Tucker back to guard; with Smith and Moses north of 32 and each on one-year deals, Gang Green is much needier at tackle.
As a Jets fan, assuming Alt and the big three receivers are off the board, I would be in favor of them trading down modestly if it does net them a second rounder, and I’m very much in favor of taking a tackle. I get the draw of Bowers, but they have two old, banged up tackles in walk years, it’s a strong tackle draft, and a good long-term tackle is one of the hardest things to find. I don’t think they should be passing up that opportunity. They need another receiver, but there will be starting caliber receivers in the second and third round of this draft, while the high probability tackles will be gone. Personally, I would love it if they could add a pick or two and still bring in Fashanu. I know his stock seems to have fallen a bit, but he’s a true left tackle with great pass blocking ability. I’d love to see them bring him along behind Smith as he adds strength and works on his run blocking game.
I’m 100% on board with this plan. The idea of moving back slightly to land Fashanu or maybe even moving back a bit more to potentially gain a 2nd and still land Morgan are both appealing. Guys like Polk, Pearsall, and Wilson stand out in the mid-rounds as guys who could be solid contributors for years to come in a pro WR corps.
The only thing I’m scared of is 1) everyone knowing our draft plan and 2) getting leapfrogged again
That’s understandable after last year, but assuming they only trade down into the teens, it’s not like all of Fashanu, Latham, Fuaga, and Mims will be gone.
I’d be careful of Mims, as the Jets. I think that he fits teams with more established lines a but better, considering how little experience he has. He’s an athletic nightmare, but he’ll still need to learn the position as a pro. It just smacks too much of the Becton experiment for New York, who needs a solid and trustworthy starter now. Mims will probably turn out better than Becton, in my opinion, but with a player in that situation, I think having him develop gradually in a more established offense is more suitable. Don’t want to pin too much on him as he’s learning, in my opinion (which is frequently wrong, of course).
That makes sense to me. I feel a lot better about the idea of the Jets taking Mims now that he would be with Tyron Smith and Morgan Moses than I did before. He would still probably be thrust into action year one because of injuries, but it wouldn’t be immediately and he’d have a couple of strong veterans to learn from. But yeah, I’d certainly feel better about his path somewhere like Green Bay or KC.
Agreed, that should help more than otherwise. It’ll give some cushion. I think I’d rank below the others though, just to be safer.
I wouldn’t draft Mims until the 4th round. 8 starts in college? Sorry that dude is going to get abused in the league. Didn’t the Jets draft an overweight LT a few years back?
Mims is a lot lighter than Becton and carries his weight very differently. I have concerns about his readiness, but his physique, work ethic, and form have all drawn better reviews than Becton ever did.
You would bet your 3rd year on the job to a dude that was always injured and started 8 games? Mims is a fool’s draft pick.
The other thing the Jets may need to think about with regard to the draft is the cap. I don’t believe they have enough available to sign their class this year, so trading down with the possibility of gaining picks next year could be possible.
They can always open up enough money to sign their picks by restructuring a Williams brother or two.
Quincy only makes $6 mil per year.so there’s really only 1 brother option
Signing their picks won’t cost all that much money, so converting some of Quincy’s base salary into bonuses could put a noticeable dent in the cost.
Tee Higgins and 18 for 10 and a 3rd
Bengals won’t do that.
They’re not trading him to move up 8 spots when they can easily net a 2nd for him. Possibly a 1st if he agrees to an extension like Aj brown.
If the Jets don’t move back and they take Odunze or Nabers at 10, I hope they find a way to land someone like Rosengarten or Amegadije. Rosengarten may require a trade up into the 2nd at this point, while Amegadije may just require a prayer and fingers crossed.
Who
Roger Rosengarten is the other Washington tackle. Kiran Amegadjie is a tackle out of Yale. You wouldn’t start him right away and there’s definitely some projection there, but he’s got very good NFL tackle measurables–which makes his college highlights hilarious, because you’ll see him destroying Ivy league players who are going to be working at McKinsey this time next year.
Couldn’t have said it better myself re: Amegadjie. He made clearly inferior opponents look downright silly. Will that translate to playing with the big boys? I’m not sure, but as a flier in the 3rd, he could be a really interesting gamble. Hopefully a redshirt year, barring the health of the starting 5 (knock on wood), would allow for growth. Rosengarten is definitely more pro-ready and could be valuable as a swing tackle in year 1.
Joe Alt needs to be the pick. They’ve got Rodgers back there and it’s the line that is responsible for his injury last year. Draft Alt and you won’t have to worry about the position for a solid 10 years or so. And if, for any reason McCarthy falls, then they’re in a solid spot to take their future QB.
If Alt is there it would be a welcome surprise. I think he’ll go before that though. We aren’t taking a QB round 1 even if it’s a possibility. Not with Rodgers aging and needing reinforcements.
Titans are a lock to take Alt at 7 if the draft order stays the same. QBs go 1-3. Cardinals, chargers, giants draft 4-6 are not drafting LT. Alt will go 7. The only question is whether teams move up or down
Eagles may be the Jets best bet to trade up the board
Eagles have the 22nd pick and 2 2nds
Eagles could jump all the way 10 and get their choice at corner before Saints Colts Jaguars Bengals Dolphins are on the clock or someone like Jared Verse or Dallas Turner
For what? 22 and both 2nds? No way. The Eagles might trade up, but to 10 I would doubt.
Both 2s are rather low though? I think it should be more than a 22 + a low 2. I’d like my Raiders to trade back as well, and it feels cheap, even at #13 to get a 22+ a low 2.
JD would have to be a wheeling and a dealing if he fell back to 22 because he’d need to jump up from 22 to 15 to get an impact player
Could he get 22 a 2nd plus a 2025 2nd for the 10?
If this was 1969 the Jets could trade back to round 14 and get another Roger Finnie. He was a pretty solid OL who enjoyed his best years with the Cardinals in the mid 70s as part of Don Coryell’s famed Air Attack.
I agree. Bowers has more value, but they really need a good tackle, and there should be a good one available. But assuming Bowers is available, someone would have to want to move up.