The Jets have the No. 10 pick in the first round and aren’t scheduled to draft again until the third round with the No. 72 pick.
New York may not have many wide receiver options with their No. 10 pick, so general manager Joe Douglas could trade back, acquire more selections in the top 100 and fill out the roster. They could then take a receiver later in the first round with their move down the draft while circling back to the tight end position with their third-round selection.
Here are five wide receivers that the Jets can select at No. 10 or by trading the pick and moving back a few spots in the first round.
Full draft target breakdowns: RB | TE | OL | DB | DL | LB | EDGE
Jets 2024 NFL draft WR targets
Rome Odunze, Washington
Measurables: 6-foot-3 | 212 pounds | 32-inch arms | 6-foot-5 wingspan | 9-inch hands
Combine numbers: 4.45 40-yard dash | 1.52 10-yard split | 39-inch vertical | 10-foot-4 broad | 6.88 3-cone | 4.03 short shuttle
If the Jets stay at pick No. 10, Marvin Harrison Jr. and Malik Nabers are most likely gone. However, there’s a chance that Rome Odunze could last until their selection.
Odunze runs after the catch like a running back and shows his number quickly to the quarterback for high-percentage throws. On deeper throws, Odunze will make the most of Rodgers' accuracy with his ability to track the ball and play with “late hands” to keep defensive backs from playing his hands for pass breakups. Odunze runs better drag routes than Harrison Jr. and is better on contested catches than Nabers.
The addition of Odunze in the first round to play in 11-personnel with Garrett Wilson and Mike Williams would be an embarrassment of riches for Rodgers. While spending the majority of his career in Green Bay, the franchise notoriously refused to draft receivers in the first round for their starting quarterback.
The last first-round receiver selected by the Packers was in 2002 (Javon Walker) which was three years before they drafted Rodgers. Drafting Odunze would be a complete 180 for Rodgers, as he’d have three former first-rounders as his starting receivers.
Adonai Mitchell, Texas
Measurables: 6-foot-2 | 205 pounds | 32-inch arms | 6-foot-6 wingspan | 9-inch hands
Combine numbers: 4.34 40-yard dash | 1.52 10-yard split | 39.5-inch vertical | 11-foot-4 broad
Mitchell has The Matrix-type movements off the line of scrimmage to beat the defensive back’s jam. He can make amazing catches, displays “late hands” and tracks the ball extremely well.
He’s sharp and explosive off the line with pull-away speed. His start-to-stop ability is ridiculous. At his size, his movement skills are like a ninja. He’ll destroy defenses when they allow him to make his way through zone coverages.
Mitchell’s new nickname should be “big-game AD” as he caught a touchdown in all four playoff games in Georgia’s back-to-back championship run in 2021 and 2022. Moreover, he also caught a touchdown in this year’s Big 12 championship game for Texas and in the College Football Playoff loss to Washington. That’s six big games in three years at two different schools with a touchdown in each game. It’s not a coincidence: He shows up when the lights are brightest.
Xavier Worthy, Texas
Measurables: 5-foot-11 | 165 pounds | 31-inch arms | 6-foot-2 wingspan | 9-inch hands
Combine numbers: 4.21 40-yard dash | 1.49 10-yard split | 41-inch vertical | 10-foot-11 broad
It’s insane to think that the Jets could trade down and pick up extra compensation and still land the fastest man who's ever run the 40 at the NFL Combine. Worthy is more than a speed demon, though. He’s a legit NFL-type wide receiver.
Just like his teammate Mitchell at Texas, Worthy tracks the ball like Willie Mays running back in centerfield, comfortably adjusting and catching the ball naturally as the ball drops right over his head into his mitts.
His speed would be a cheat code for an offense that already has the talent of Wilson and the size of Williams at the receiver position with the threat of running back Breece Hall coming out of the backfield on a run or a pass. Worthy’s speed is dynamic whether attacking vertically or horizontally and opens up the entirety of the offense.
The concern lies in his frame as the only two receivers that come to mind with similar height and weight that have succeeded in the NFL are DeSean Jackson and DeVonta Smith.
Brian Thomas Jr., LSU
Measurables: 6-foot-3 | 209 pounds | 33-inch arms - 6-foot-8 wingspan | 10-inch hands
Combine numbers: 4.33 40-yard dash | 1.50 10-yard split | 38.5-inch vertical | 10-foot-6 broad | 11 bench reps
Thomas Jr.’s biggest strength is splitting zone coverage down the seam with his size and speed combination. He has a great breakdown and explosiveness to play back to the ball.
He’s a big target who can show his numbers quickly for his quarterback. Thomas Jr. has great shake off the line but can get carried away with wasted steps that will throw off timing routes at the next level.
Despite his size, don’t ask him to block as he’s passive and usually just ends up holding. He’ll have concentration drops as well as allow the pass breakup on contested catches.
Ladd McConkey, Georgia
Measurables: 6-foot-0 | 186 pounds | 30-inch arms | 6-foot-0 wingspan | 9-inch hands
Combine numbers: 4.39 40-yard dash | 1.52 10-yard split | 36-inch vertical | 10-foot-4 broad | 13 bench reps
McConkey is so deadly in his route running that Rodgers will feel as if he’s just playing a game of pitch-and-catch with a friend before the game. He shreds coverage and is completely lethal against the zone.
As is the case with Thomas Jr., McConkey displays the speed and ability to split zone coverages down the seam on a “go” route. He’s fast and works back to the ball for his quarterback. On stops, ins and outs, his routes are so tight it leaves defensive backs picking up their ankles off the field.
The knock on his game is all due to length. He’ll get stymied in press man when they attempt to jam him off the line of scrimmage. While he works to get to blocks, his lack of length leads to him being shed by longer players.
Who will the Jets draft?
If the Jets decide to wait until later in the draft to look for their tight end of the future, they’ll take Rome Odunze if he’s still available. A trade back from No. 10 to between the No. 15 and No. 20 picks should leave them with two of the options between Mitchell, Worthy and Thomas Jr.
If they decide to drop back even further to between pick No. 21 and No. 25, they should still have a shot at one of Mitchell, Worthy or Thomas Jr. They could even drop back to between No. 26 through the end of the round at pick No. 32 and still be in play for McConkey.
Odunze will most likely be gone, allowing the Jets to attempt to drop back or pick tight end Brock Bowers. If both are gone, New York's fallback at the receiver position should be Worthy. His speed and ability are too unique for New York to pass on for Rodgers to maximize in the offense.
