The Jets are in a precarious situation.
There are rumors New York wants to trade up from No. 10 to draft a pass-catcher. However, the team isn't necessarily in a position to mortgage more of its future in a pivotal year. That's especially true if the draft board doesn't fall their way and if they're unable to get a good deal to move up.
So in a new mock draft from ESPN's Field Yates, Jets general manager Joe Douglas traded back from No. 10 to the Colts' spot at No. 15 after Marvin Harrison Jr., Malik Nabers and Rome Odunze were all taken. Brock Bowers was there for the taking, but the Jets passed on him to move back five spots and pick up an extra third-round pick. The Colts Bowers.
With the Jets' new pick, New York took Oregon State offensive tackle Taliese Fuaga instead. While Fuaga isn't a highfalutin pick like any of the pass-catchers, he's a much more measured selection for a team that needs to fortify its offensive line rather than gamble on more offensive skill position players.
"Let's settle one of the biggest draft debates of the past month — and one that has existed since the Jets acquired Tyron Smith and Morgan Moses this offseason: Should New York further invest in the offensive line or draft an immediate contributor at a different spot?" Yates wrote. "I believe GM Joe Douglas will choose to add another big blocker after the Jets used 12 different offensive line combinations in 2023. Fuaga is a mauler who profiles as a long-term starter at tackle with the added ability to play guard. Landing him and picking up an extra pick would be a win for the Jets."
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Jets rumored to want pass-catcher in 2024 NFL Draft
Early on this offseason, many penciled in an offensive lineman to the Jets at No. 10. It only made sense given how poorly the line played in 2023 following Rodgers' season-ending injury four snaps into the season.
And with a bounty of quality offensive tackles in this draft, it made sense.
That idea slowly dissipated as the Jets continued to pursue wide receivers in the veteran trade market and free agency. New York failed to land Keenan Allen from the Chargers and Jerry Jeudy from the Broncos before ultimately signing Mike Williams on the open market following an ACL tear in 2023.
Those rumors only added to the idea that the Jets wanted to go pass-catcher with the No. 10 pick. It didn't help that New York met with Bowers and Odunze in the pre-draft process — two players with the highest likelihood of lasting to the Jets pick.
Jets 2024 draft targets: TE | WR | OL
But when push comes to shove, Yates believes the Jets will solidify the offensive line with their top pick and look at pass-catchers elsewhere — either in the draft or in free agency.
"I'm coming around to the idea of the Jets passing on tight end Brock Bowers (Georgia) at No. 10, trading down a few spots and taking an offensive tackle," Yates said. "They could get Taliese Fuaga (Oregon State) or Olu Fashanu (Penn State) and pick up extra capital. Remember that they don't have a second-round pick as a result of the Aaron Rodgers trade."
This is, in all likelihood, the better move for the Jets. While a skill position player would be helpful, it won't matter if the offensive line is in shambles. Smith and Moses are older and have become a bit more injury-prone. Alijah Vera-Tucker has never finished a full NFL season, either. Newcomer John Simpson isn't a sure thing, either.
While a player like Bowers or Odunze would be nice, the simplest, easiest — and, probably — the best-case scenario is taking one of the top offensive tackles in the draft. And if the Jets can pick up an extra pick, too, that'll be even better.
