The New York Jets entered the offseason with several positions of need to address on offense, with at least one of those spots likely to be addressed atop the 2024 NFL Draft. After two weeks of free agency, the Jets could potentially take things in a very different direction on draft day.
New York overhauled a unit that resulted in one of the worst NFL offenses in 2023. The team signed guard John Simpson, traded for right tackle Morgan Moses and signed future Hall of Fame tackle Tyron Smith to bolster its offensive line. Then, New York strengthened its receiving corps by signing Mike Williams.
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All of the moves make the surrounding talent around quarterback Aaron Rodgers much stronger for the 2024 season. It also provided general manager Joe Douglas with more flexibility on what he can do with the 10th overall pick. Amid debate over whether New York could take tight end Brock Bowers or a top offensive tackle, there appears to be another option that needs to be considered.
Connor Rogers of NBC Sports and SNY.tv recently shared that he thinks the Jets would “love to trade out of 10” if the right offer comes along. If that isn’t an option, then he believes New York would take the best player available when on the clock in the 2024 NFL Draft.
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Who will the Jets draft in 2024?
Trading down might prove difficult depending on what happens in the first five picks. With the Minnesota Vikings widely expected to jump into the top five to snag a quarterback, the expectation is that four quarterbacks will be taken early.
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If a team loves quarterback Bo Nix or Michael Penix Jr., it’s possible they’d be willing to jump ahead of the Denver Broncos (12th overall pick) to take either player. On the other hand, four quarterbacks being taken within the first five picks would also push top talent at other positions down the board.
While fans might prefer to see New York stand pat and take a player like Bowers or Penn State offensive tackle Olu Fashanu, the opportunity to move down and acquire more draft capital might prove enticing to a front office without a second-round pick in April.
