The Jets have been busy this offseason building up their offense, particularly the offensive line around quarterback Aaron Rodgers for his impending return.
New York has the No. 10 pick in the first round but isn’t scheduled to draft again until the third round with the No. 72 pick. However, the Jets could always trade back from their pick and acquire more selections in the top 100 to fill positions of need.
One of those areas of concern is at tight end. The Jets cut C.J. Uzomah and Tyler Conklin isn’t a star player despite averaging 60 receptions for almost 600 receiving yards and two touchdowns over the past three seasons — two of which were with New York. Jeremy Ruckert, the team's third-round pick in 2022, hasn't developed fast enough yet either after he tallied just 16 receptions for 151 scoreless yards in 2023.
Here are five tight ends the Jets could target, starting with an obvious pick at No. 10 and continuing with players they could draft in the later rounds.
Full draft target breakdowns: WR | OL | DB | EDGE
Jets 2024 NFL draft TE targets
Brock Bowers, Georgia
Measurables: 6-foot-3 | 243 pounds | 33-inch arms | 6-foot-6 wingspan | 10-inch hands
The Jets are situated perfectly to take the top tight end in the draft in Bowers. While they could look to add one of the top three receivers, it’s unlikely that any of the trio of Marvin Harrison Jr., Malik Nabers and Rome Odunze would make it to their pick at No. 10. The receiver position is also the deepest position in the draft and New York could find a talented player later.
That’s not the case at tight end as there are only four to five guys who are likely to go in the first two days of the draft. For Bowers, the Jets may be the best situation for him. Not only will he have a future Hall of Fame quarterback throwing him the ball, but he won’t have the pressure to carry the position in Year 1 with Conklin already on the roster.
Rodgers will love Bowers’ ability to immediately show that he blocks at the snap of the ball, only to quickly make an out cut that gets him in space with the opportunity to move chains at a highly efficient rate. Bowers will devour zone coverage with Rodgers. For a tight end, he has an incredible shake off the line of scrimmage, can make the one-hand grab and is a threat running after the catch.
He has areas to get better in, though. Alabama defensive linemen gave him issues maintaining blocks and he needs stronger hands as a receiver to hold on when defenders attack the mesh point as they can separate him from these receptions.
Cade Stover, Ohio State
Measurables: 6-foot-4 | 247 pounds | 33-inch arms | 6-foot-5 wingspan | 10-inch hands
Combine numbers: 4.65 40-yard dash | 1.59 10-yard split | 34.5-inch vertical | 9-foot-9 broad | 4.45 short shuttle
If the Jets trade down from pick No. 10 in the first round, they most likely wouldn’t need to make a selection at the tight end position until their current third-round pick No. 72. If they’re concerned with missing out on “their guy,” they could acquire a late pick in the second round and grab him a little earlier than they’re expected to go.
Stover is the next closest option to Bowers when looking for a complete tight end that can block and receive. He’s the best pick for a team looking to find their young, tight end of the future if they were to pass on Bowers in this draft class.
Rodgers will find Stover to be a weapon on seam routes. He’s deadly on stop routes and smart to drift away from zone coverage when he sits in a soft spot, to help prevent turnovers and pass breakups and allow for yards after the catch. When running after the reception he’s typically not going to be brought down by the leg tackles.
Ja’Tavion Sanders, Texas
Measurables: 6-foot-4 | 245 pounds | 33-inch arms | 6-foot-6 wingspan | 10-inch hands
Combine numbers: 4.69 40-yard dash | 1.59 10-yard split | 4.32 short shuttle
The next three options all offer something different. If the Jets do pass on Bowers and miss out on Stover, it’ll depend on what they’re looking for in a rookie tight end to decide who they select.
Sanders is the big-body receiving threat who’s not going to give much as a blocker outside of a powerful down block. He’s athletic to make the leaping adjustment on catches while plucking the ball with his massive hands.
He’s great at leaking out late into coverage as well as getting behind the second level in zone coverage allowing him to eat up yards after the catch. He uses his size well to lean on defenders in-route and cut off of it.
Ben Sinnott, Kansas State
Measurables: 6-foot-4 | 250 pounds | 32-inch arms - 6-foot-6 wingspan | 9.5-inch hands
Combine numbers: 4.68 40-yard dash | 1.59 10-yard split | 40-inch vertical | 10-foot-6 broad | 6.82 3-cone | 4.23 short shuttle
Sinnott is the most versatile player out of these past three tight ends listed. He’s a utility player that can take reps at fullback, open holes for Breece Hall, take snaps at halfback where he’d be Rodgers' personal protector and catch in the flat or down the seam. He has the athletic ability and contact balance to punish defenses after the catch.
He’s not completely polished as he fully extends at the top of his routes and doesn't hide or mask these push-offs, leading to flags at the next level. When he faced Alabama cornerback Kool-Aid McKinstry, he would struggle to get off of press man coverage when they jammed him.
Theo Johnson, Penn State
Measurables: 6-foot-6 | 259 pounds | 33-inch arms | 6-foot-9 wingspan | 10-inch hands
Combine numbers: 4.57 40-yard dash | 1.55 10-yard split | 39.5-inch vertical | 10-foot-5 broad | 7.15 3-cone | 4.19 short shuttle
Johnson is the blocking tight end of this group. He times well and looks fluid in drills and practices but it doesn’t show up on his game film or in his stats.
Johnson could come into Year 1 and provide extra protection for Rodgers while being developed to reach the receiving potential his measurements and testing numbers show. Having Conklin already on the roster with the ability to make 60-plus receptions alleviates having to get Johnson’s maximum return in the passing game in 2024.
In pass protection, Johnson plays with a balanced base with a massive frame and 6-foot-9 wingspan. He rolls his hips into run blocks and oncoming blitzes, showing the ability to routinely hold up.
Who will the Jets draft?
The Jets have options at the position apart from Bowers. They could trade back and go for Stover to give the team a talented player who can help out in the running and passing game. They could also choose to add the versatility of Sinnott, the blocking of Johnson or the receiving ability of Sanders.
Sometimes the best option is the simplest one. Bowers is the top tight end in this class. He’s a dual-threat player and projects to be a difference-maker at the position at the NFL level. Meanwhile, New York could find another starting wideout in their 11-personnel alongside Garrett Wilson and Mike Williams Williams in the third round. All the value and logic leads to Bowers as the pick at No. 10 and finding the receiver later.
