The Jets built up their offense for Aaron Rodgers during the free agency period. They now head into a draft in which the Jets have a top-10 pick and will look to either give Rodgers more weapons or solidify his protection.
The Jets added two 33-year-old offensive tackles in Tyron Smith and Morgan Moses this offseason to keep Rodgers upright. They also brought in guard John Simpson on a two-year deal that gives the Jets an out after the 2024 season. Simpson will start opposite guard Alijah Vera-Tucker on the interior.
The Jets haven’t picked up Vera-Tucker’s fifth-year option to this point as they have until May and could wait until the last minute to see if they were able to draft his placement at the position before making their final decision. Another offensive weapon would be tempting for the Jets to place in the offense but a year after Rodgers was injured behind their offensive line – ensuring his protection for 2024 and beyond should be the main motivator.
Here are five offensive linemen 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: TE | WR | DB | EDGE
Jets 2024 NFL draft OL targets
Troy Fautanu, Washington, OT
Measurables: 6-foot-4 | 317 pounds | 34.5-inch arms | 6-foot-9.5 wingspan | 9.5-inch hands
Combine numbers: 5.01 40-yard dash | 1.71 10-yard split | 32.5-inch vertical | 9-foot-5 broad
Fautanu isn’t getting the same praise as Joe Alt in this class but could be the best talent at the next level. He does everything that you would want to see from your tackle. If he was an inch taller and 15 pounds heavier he would be mentioned as a fringe top-five pick in this class.
The parameters based on height, weight and speed get boosted in value during the months leading up to the draft. After the draft is done all that matters is how you play. Fantanu could be the next David Bakhtiari at offensive tackle. Oddly enough, that’s who protected Rodgers’ blindside for a decade with the Packers.
Fautanu does everything violent, whether it’s his down block, chopping down defenders' arms or delivering a punch, which we don’t see from most of the top tackles in this class. He rolls his hips and pops in the run game. Fautanu can latch on in space and bury linebackers and defensive backs. He’s sticky on second-level blocks, quickly walls off and anchors whether moving laterally or dropping.
He could provide talented depth for the Jets in 2024 if either of the aging tackles were to miss time at the tackle position, while also being the left tackle of the future.
Taliese Fuaga, Oregon State, OG
Measurables: 6-foot-6 | 324 pounds | 33-inch arms | 6-foot-8.5 wingspan | 10-inch hands
Combine numbers: 5.13 40-yard dash | 1.77 10-yard split | 32-inch vertical | 9-foot-3 broad
The only guard to make the list of five offensive linemen is Fuaga. He’s the interior version of Fautanu. He has a violent punch, a smooth quick kick and runs combo blocks perfectly. Fuaga has the versatility of Vera-Tucker to play inside or out.
Fuaga will fill the void without the falloff in talent if any of the Jets' guards or tackles miss time over a 17-game season while keeping Rodgers comfortable with his protection. The addition of Fuaga would mean the Jets could also pass on Vera-Tucker’s fifth-year option by May with Fuaga able to fill his role long-term after the season.
Fuaga moves well in space, mirrors defenders with ease and if beat on a pass rush has the length and quickness to work them past the hoop.
Joe Alt, Notre Dame, OT
Measurables: 6-foot-9 | 321 pounds | 34-inch arms | 6-foot-11 wingspan | 10-inch hands
Combine numbers: 5.05 40-yard dash | 1.73 10-yard split | 28-inch vertical | 9-foot-4 broad | 7.31 cone | 4.51 short shuttle
Alt has been the darling of the offensive tackle group throughout the draft process. There’s a lot to like about his game as he walls off with ease, displays the ability to anchor versus the bull rush and has appropriate form when his athletic ability isn’t outmatched.
Out of the five linemen on this list, it sounds as if Alt is the most unlikely to last to the Jets pick at No. 10. However, he could blossom into the best tackle from this class there are areas of issues in his game.
Alt doesn’t punch in pass protection and isn’t one to knock back defenders. In the Ohio State game, he played over his toes, lunging and routinely getting caught off balance. Shifty pass rushers can get Alt off balance and then get into his chest. He also displays an issue against shifty linebackers in space as he lunges and tends to grab around their waist.
JC Latham, Alabama, OT
Measurables: 6-foot-5 | 342 pounds | 35-inch arms - 7-foot-1 wingspan | 11-inch hands
Latham is a guy who can play right away and would be a top-10 talent if it wasn't for a lack of upside due to his size. He has a similar frame to former Bills and Bengals offensive lineman Cordy Glenn. Like Glenn, many will question if Latham should kick to guard but it’s only a question due to size and not talent or film.
Latham is a massive man with arms longer than 35 inches and a wingspan that surpasses seven feet. He controls pass rushers with his huge hands placed on the interior of his opponents’ shoulder pads. He doesn’t overreact to spin moves and if facing a wide-nine defensive end with speed he can use his length to drive them past the hoop.
There are areas in his game he’ll need to improve as he has a tendency to drop his head before contact with a defender when lunging and loses his mark. Latham will also open his outside hip when gathering from a bull rush, allowing a path to his quarterback.
Olumuyiwa Fashanu, Penn State, OT
Measurables: 6-foot-6 | 312 pounds | 34-inch arms | 6-foot-10.5 wingspan | 8.5-inch hands
Combine numbers: 5.11 40-yard dash | 1.77 10-yard split | 32-inch vertical | 9-foot-1 broad
Fashanu’s strength is pass protection as he drops anchor despite the torque being put on his body he’ll still sustain his place, not allowing a drive back into the quarterback’s lap. He’s proactive with his hand usage but does need more substance to his punch and he shows an ease in picking up stunts.
If you’re looking for a guy who’s going to give you strong pass protection and run blocking in Year 1, Fashanu is not your guy. He doesn’t sustain run blocks and struggles in space to finish his assignment.
While Fashanu is a better pass protector, there's an issue here as well. Like was the case with Alt against Ohio State, Fashanu too, showed massive struggles. In the OSU game, there were a minimum of four occurrences where Fashanu was on the ground. He will get beat by the spin move and despite length will let defenders into his chest.
Who should the Jets draft?
Most expectations are that Joe Alt will be the first offensive tackle taken — either by the Jets or before No. 10. Fashanu has been shown a lot of love during the draft process and has been talked about as a top-10 pick by many but there’s better options on the offensive line for the Jets. Latham’s limitations on upside will prevent him from being the pick at No. 10 but if the Jets trade back a few spots to pick up extra picks, he would make a lot of sense.
The Jets should pass on Brock Bowers and not force the issue at receiver as they could most likely still get their No. 2 or No. 3-ranked tight end with their next pick at No. 72 in the third round or still select a quality receiver out of this deep, talented class at the position. The value at pick No. 10 is at offensive line and the Jets will either select Fuaga for the interior or Fautanu as their tackle of the future.
