The New York Jets season ended minutes into their home opener in Week 1 with Aaron Rodgers’ season-ending injury. While it wiped out an opportunity to contend for the Super Bowl, the Jets are now well-positioned to land one of their favorite players in the 2024 NFL Draft.
Holding the 10th overall pick, New York is in an ideal spot. Multiple quarterback-needy teams are ahead of them and there is widespread belief that three quarterbacks will be taken within the first nine picks. As a result, some of the best overall talents in the 2024 NFL Draft class will fall.
Related: New York Jets finally own up to crucial 2024 mistake
Heading into the pre-draft process, offensive tackle, defensive tackle and defensive backs are among the top Jets draft needs in 2024. Thanks to draft positioning and the aforementioned needs of clubs ahead of them, New York already seems to know who it wants at 10th overall.
According to Sportskeeda’s Tony Pauline, there was significant chatter at the Senior Bowl that the Jets are targeting Oregon State offensive tackle Taliese Guaga with the 10th overall pick in the 2024 NFL Draft.
Who will the New York Jets draft in 2024?
Furthermore, per ESPN’s Rich Cimini, Jets’ general manager Joe Douglas has “an affinity” for Fuaga and many around the NFL believe New York has been heavily scouting him for months.
“Apple of his eye? Jets GM Joe Douglas has an affinity for Oregon State OT Taliese Fuaga, according to buzz in scouting circles. Has been eyeing him for months, I’m told. Fuaga is attending the Senior Bowl this week.”
Rich Cimini on the New York Jets interest in Taliese Fuaga
Related: New York Jets draft picks 2024
Fuaga, 6-foot-6, was one of the best offensive tackles in college football last season. The 334-pound offensive lineman was voted first-team All-American after earning second-team All-Pac 12 honors in his sophomore season at Oregon State.
One reason Fuaga might be particularly intriguing to New York is because of his versatility. While many believe his best position in the NFL is at right tackle, other talent evaluators have expressed confidence in Fuaga’s athleticism allowing him to play left tackle.
New York has glaring needs at both spots and Fuaga would be a plug-and-play starter at either side of the offensive line. Considering how much of the Jets’ Super Bowl hopes in 2024 are riding on a healthy Rodgers, adding either Fuaga or finding a way to land Green Bay Packers offensive tackle David Bakhtiari would be the best way to improve New York’s offensive line next season.
