Florham Park, NJ – A look at what’s happening around the New York Jets:
1. To Do List: General Manager Joe Douglas put in an Aaron Judge-like performance in last year’s NFL Draft, knocking it out of the park in historic fashion.
“Obviously, Joe has pulled it off,” said Jim Nagy, executive director of the Senior Bowl and former NFL scout. “Anytime you land Rookie of the Year in the same class, that’s pretty cool. I can’t imagine this being done multiple times.”
In fact, wide receiver Garrett Wilson and Chick Gardner became only the third pair of teammates in 56 years to win NFL Offensive and Defensive Rookie of the Year awards in the same season.
What can Douglas & Co. do to show up? The Jets have six draft picks, including three in the Top 43. It’ll be a successful draft weekend if they:
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Complete Aaron Rodgers trade. It’s a win for the Jets if they can do it without giving up any unconditional first-round picks.
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Address their offensive line needs. Stepping in and centering are big things. They could end up with Paris Johnson Jr. (Ohio) or Broderick Jones (Georgia) 13th – Both left prospects. The Jets are fortunate because they are an extraordinarily strong centric class; They must find a good one in the second round. John Michael Schmitz (Minnesota) and Joe Tipman (Wisconsin) are the names to watch.
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Enhance their defensive tackle depth: They signed Quinton Jefferson but lost Sheldon Rankins and Nathan Shepherd. They need to add a young player to the pipeline. They don’t have a third-round pick (he was sent to the Cleveland Browns in an Elijah Moore trade), but don’t be surprised if Douglas picks three with some maneuvering.
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Add another wide receiver: Yes, they’ve made a lot of moves at receiver, but they’re not done yet. The goal is to surround Rodgers, the starting midfielder, with as many playmakers as possible. If the value is there, they can add wide at any point in the draft. Josh Downs (North Carolina), ideal in the slot, could be an interesting option on day two. If they choose one, they can search for Denzel memes.
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Find a backer (if needed): They’re fine at fullback if Kwon Alexander re-signs. If the Jets see his return as unlikely, they should add competition for the LB3 spot.
The draft represented another plan for Douglas.
“For me, stick to the same scheme,” Nagy said. “It worked last year.” “Whatever value system you’ve used in the past year, I’m going to re-enforce it. You obviously got results—immediate results. If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it.”
2- Brokers: Some drafts only yield two decent centers, but this one includes at least five with starting potential, according to ESPN draft analyst Todd McShea. He identified three plug-and-play possibilities – Tippmann, Schmitz, and Luke Webler (Ohio State). His other two favourites Ricky Stromberg (Arkansas) and Oluwatimi healer (Michigan).
The planes messed up in the center. From 1998 to 2016, they had elite level performances from Kevin Mawae and Nick Mangold. Since then, it has not been the same. Conor McGovern had some moments from 2020 to 2022, but he remained a free agent – and that’s telling.
3. Potential Wildcard: It would be annoying if the Jets didn’t draft a tackle in the first round. We all know Douglas has a penchant for offensive outfit men. The same can be said of the backline, especially with defence-minded Robert Saleh as coach. So if you’re looking for a first-round defensive curveball, the name to remember is Nolan Smith (Georgia).
Smith (6-foot-2, 238) is undersized to play defensive end at a 4-3 front, but has rare speed (4.39 seconds for the 40-yard dash) and explosiveness (1.47 for his 10-yard dash). Some evaluators say Smith could play Leo — a protective defensive end, akin to what he played in college. Saleh is familiar with Leo, having coached under Pete Carroll with the Seattle Seahawks.
On paper, they don’t need another edge pusher, but if Smith somehow slips into 13…
4. Mini MOQ 2.0: Jets selection is being prepared at 13:00…
1. Carolina Panthers: Bryce Young, QB, Alabama; 2 – Houston Texans: CJ Stroud, QB, Ohio State; 3. Arizona Cardinals: Will Anderson Jr., Edge, Alabama; 4. Indianapolis Colts: Anthony Richardson, QB, FL; QB; 5 – Seattle Seahawks: Galen CarterDT, Georgia; 6. Detroit Lions: Terry Wilson, de, texas tech; 7. Las Vegas Raiders: Devon WitherspoonCB, Illinois; 8. ATLANTA FALCONS: Nolan Smith, Edge, Georgia; 9. Chicago Bears: Peter Skowronsky, T/G, NW; 10. Philadelphia Eagles: Lucas Van NessDee, Iowa; 11. Tennessee Titans, Will LevisQB, Kentucky; 12. Texas: Christian GonzalezCB, Oregon.
In this scenario at 13, the Jets will have a pleasant surprise when they have a choice of three tackles – Johnson, Jones and Darnell Wright (Tennessee). Jones may have the highest ceiling, but Johnson has the highest floor – so he’d be the pick.
5- Project Trivia Jets: Can you name the oldest former Jets draft pick still active in the NFL? Answer below.
6. Flippers? Former Tampa Bay Buccaneers general manager Mark Dominic, now an analyst at SiriusXM, offered his take on the holdup in the Rodgers trade.
“I have a feeling we’re going to see the Packers go from 15 to 13, and Aaron Rodgers will be in that, plus another draft,” said Dominic. “I don’t know of any other reason why they wouldn’t — unless they were trying to use draft picks to do it.”
A drop from 13 to 15 is equivalent to a lowered third-round pick/early fourth-round pick, as commonly used Trade value chart. Obviously, the Jets will have to give up more than that to complete the trade. Most Likely Outcome: The Jets trade one of their 2023 second-round picks and a conditional 2024 pick. The 2024 payout is It said The core of the dispute, however, is that the Packers are believed to be seeking an unconditional first manager.
7. Quiet Zach: Quarterback Zach Wilson, who was present for the start of volunteer workouts, has kept a low profile this offseason. He hasn’t spoken to the media since the season finale, when he vowed to “make this guy’s life hell in practice” – referring to the possibility of supporting a veteran (pre-Rodgers speculation). It will be interesting to hear what he has to say now.
Here’s a positive: Wilson, through a hookup with Rodgers, received a glowing report on new offensive coordinator Nathaniel Hackett. This should help mitigate the stress of your demotion.
8. Cheesy Text: Sauce Gardner tells Jason and Travis Kelsey on their podcast (“New Heights”) that he tried to recruit Rodgers by sending him a picture of him with a cheesehead – the one he took from last season’s game at Lambeau Field. Gardner said Rodgers responded, “Why do you have that? Lol.”
At least he didn’t reply to the text message, “I lost my number.”
9 – Two islands: Gardner has some interesting things to say on the podcast about comparisons to Gates’ Daryl Reeves, a window into his mindset as he prepares for season two.
“He was a great cornerback and all, but I want to be better than him,” says Gardner. When people talk about Sauce Island, they only think of Darrelle Revis Island. Don’t get me wrong, I’m on an island too, but that’s why the fans created ‘Lost in the Sauce.’ I didn’t make it up. I saw it in the comments on Twitter. And I said, “We’re going to use this.”
10. Did you know? The Jets have only one safety under contract for 2024 – Tony Adams. Four safeties, including starters Jordan Whitehead and Chuck Clark, will be free agents. They can take into account their decisions on the third day.
Trivia answer: Linebacker Demario Davis, 34, was a third-round draft pick in 2012. He’s spent the past five seasons with the New Orleans Saints, and is a former All-Pro (2019) who made his first Pro Bowl last season.