The calendar has flipped to April and that means the 2024 NFL Draft is rapidly approaching.
It’s time to try to project what the Jets might do when April 25 and the draft roll around with our first seven-round mock draft of the year.
General manager Joe Douglas had done a good job of filling many of the team’s needs through free agency.
That gives him plenty of flexibility when it comes to the draft.
The Jets still need to land some players, though, to give Aaron Rodgers a complete cast around him.
The mantra from owner Woody Johnson has been, “offense, offense, offense” this offseason and we listened to him in this mock draft.
The first five picks are all offensive players in an effort to help that unit climb out of the bottom of the NFL rankings.
We used the PFF mock draft simulator to help us out and here is what we came up with for the Jets 2024 Draft:
Douglas landed two starting tackles during free agency. He traded for Morgan Moses and signed Tyron Smith to a one-year deal. Still, I think they should take a tackle here. Both Moses and Smith are 33 and have injury questions. Moses is coming off of pectoral surgery and Smith has been dealing with a number of injuries in recent years.
Joe Alt of Notre Dame was off the board in this simulation. I went with Fuaga but they could take Olu Fashanu of Penn State or JC Latham of Alabama here. Washington’s Troy Fautanu is also gaining steam, but some teams may see him as a guard.
I would be tempted to take a wide receiver if one of the top ones dropped but Marvin Harrison, Rome Odunze and Malik Nabers were all off the board this time, as well as tight end Brock Bowers.
The Jets added Mike Williams in free agency, but he is coming off an ACL surgery and will turn 30 years old this season. He is not a long-term answer. Walker could be the vertical threat this offense needs.
He averaged 30.7 yards per touchdown reception at North Carolina. He is a speedster, running a 4.36 40-yard dash. Walker’s route running is not refined but the Jets have good route runners. They need someone to stretch the field for Rodgers.
Breece Hall should be on the verge of a monster season for the Jets one year removed from ACL surgery and with a stronger offense around him. But the Jets still have work to do behind him. Israel Abanikanda showed promise as a rookie but they need to add to the running back room.
Douglas could do that by signing a veteran free agent but he hasn’t yet so we’re taking Estime here. Estime can be a bruising, short-yardage back for the Jets that can complement what the other two backs do.
One of the more fascinating questions about the Jets in this Draft is whether they will take a quarterback. They have Rodgers and Tyrod Taylor but could use a developmental quarterback behind them. This may be early to take a quarterback but Travis is an interesting prospect that can be had here because he suffered a serious leg injury last season. This could be a steal.
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He was a team captain at Indiana before he transferred to Michigan and is known as a good blocker. Barner would mainly be a special teams player early.
The Jets have the final two picks in the Draft and it’s time to give Robert Saleh some defensive players. The Jets need some depth at safety and this is also where you are looking for special teams players.
The Jets currently have the Mr. Irrelevant pick and I’ll take a linebacker. Again, this is more about special teams at this point but the Jets could also use some youth in the linebacker room.