The New York Jets draft is going to be vital for team building. Robert Saleh’s squad started out strong last season but faltered big time down the stretch.
While the quarterback position has received headlines in Jersey thus far, there are other moves the Jets must make in order to be taken seriously as contenders in the AFC East next season.
Below, we provide you with our full seven-round New York Jets mock draft for 2023 with analysis mixed in.
Related: 2023 NFL mock draft
Here is a list of the New York Jets draft needs heading into the 2023 offseason
Sportsnaut used Pro Football Focus’ NFL Draft simulator, which provides the flexibility to trade and work through a variety of scenarios. Let’s dive into our Jets mock draft.
The Jets might very well return veteran Duane Brown next season. But he’s north of 37 years old and is on his final legs. Meanwhile, the loss of left tackle Mekhi Becton for the entire 2022 season impacted New York’s struggling passing game.
A former star at Ohio State, Johnson excelled during drills at the NFL Scouting Combine. He’s as athletic and versatile as they come after playing all five offensive line positions for the Buckeyes. Johnson would be able to slot in at right tackle and eventually take over on the other side for the yet-to-be-named starting quarterback in 2023.
Talk about someone who did a great job during the combine to up his stock. He displayed the athleticism that some thought was missing with the Hawkeyes (6.74 three-cone drill, 37.5-inch vertical). It’s also not like he wasn’t productive at Iowa (125 tackles, 2 INT as a senior last season).
To say that New York needs help at linebacker would be an understatement. Quincy Williams yielded an 86.3% completion when targeted. And while C.J. Mosley played well, he continues to be a salary cap albatross and is clearly past his prime. In this scenario, New York adds a rising player who could contribute quickly.