Mock Draft: Jets Could Be Active Traders In Early Draft Rounds, But If They’re Not…
In his first two shots at the NFL Draft, Jets General Manager Joe Douglas was aggressive in trading down to obtain more picks. It resulted in a yield of 19 players.
The problem: Of those 19, I would count just two of them (guard Alijah Vera-Tucker, the one player in these Drafts Douglas had to have and surrendered two third-round picks to swap first-rounders with Minnesota to get him, and slot cornerback Michael Carter) as having the inside track to start for Gang Green on Opening Day 2023. Maybe they’ll be able to add tackle Mekhi Becton, Douglas’ disappointing No. 11 overall pick from 2020 who has seen just one quarter of action in the past two seasons due to injuries, to this sorry list if he can stay healthy through training camp.
A year ago, however, Douglas’ pivoted. Armed with ample Draft capital, he moved up twice to obtain his coveted players late in the first round and early in the second round. Whether edge rusher Jermaine Johnson and/or running back Breece Hall end up making the gambles worth the cost is beside the point, which is that Douglas was feeling the heat coming from ownership to bring in better talent.
It’s why the Jets have been all in on trading for Green Bay quarterback Aaron Rodgers, who, if they’re lucky, will give them two seasons before the organization is back in the same position of needing a legitimate signal caller.
To acquire Rodgers’ services, Douglas will surely have to surrender picks. The quantity and quality is reportedly being negotiated, with everyone waiting to see if it will be consummated at some point during the 2023 Draft that commences next week. Douglas seems to be holding onto his first round selection, No. 13 overall, for dear life, preferring to offload one of his two consecutive second-rounders (Nos. 42 and 43) as his opening salvo.
Thank heavens for that. The Jets, sorry to say, are not a Rodgers addition away from being able to compete with the AFC’s elite, never mind their Division foes Buffalo and Miami. They don’t sport the same pathetic roster of Douglas’ first two years, but there’s still plenty of holes to fill. They’re light in the interior of both lines and could also use another offensive tackle, a linebacker, and a safety. Even at some positions where they have capable starters, like at cornerback, their depth could easily be bolstered. Plus they should draft a young quarterback to eventually compete with 2021 first-round bust Zach Wilson (or, um, in case their best laid plan for this season doesn’t pan out).
With all those needs, the Jets should look to move back in the first round to gain more rolls of the dice. That’s what smart organizations do.
However, no one ever accused the Jets of being smart. As such, here is my first crack at a two-round mock draft using three different simulators and assuming that no Jets/Packers deal gets done in time:
First round (No. 13 overall): Peter Skoronski, Tackle (Northwestern)
The Jets should be able to secure one of the top offensive linemen in the nation from this slot. In the simulators used, Ohio State’s Paris Johnson, who would have been my top choice, was gone, so it was between Skoronski and Georgia’s Broderick Jones. In looking at the scouting reports, I chose the guy who knows how to play football over a sculpture who hasn’t had a whole lot of experience blocking out of true pass sets. Skoronski has been dinged by scouts for his short arm measurements and relative power deficit, which make many believe he will settle in the NFL as a guard. However, he is considered the most fundamentally sound of all the prospects at tackle, where he started 33 games for the Wildcats in his collegiate career. Douglas will love that he is a team captain and has what The Athletic’s Dane Brugler called “an elite work ethic.” Per ProFootballFocus.com, Skoronski posted the nation’s second-best pressure rate while facing a Big Ten schedule. You know who else has short arms? Vera-Tucker, who fared decently (zero sacks allowed, per PFF) when forced to move to tackle during Weeks 4-7 before his season ending injury in Denver.
Second round: (No. 42 overall) Joe Tippmann, Center (Wisconsin)
This Big Ten offensive lineman seems to be more of a consensus pick. The Jets have not re-signed Connor McGovern, their starting center for the last three seasons, so the need matches up with the general vicinity of where the player is expected to be slotted. The one issue is that Tippmann is considered tall (6-foot 6) for the position, where he is more susceptible to being overpowered if he doesn’t get out of his stance properly. However, his quickness and athleticism are supposedly off the charts, which makes him one of the top two center prospects in the nation.
Second round: (No. 43 overall) Darnell Washington, TE (Georgia)
I didn’t see a large selection of intriguing players here. Some may wonder why I chose a tight end over one of the more glaring needs given that New York already has two highly-paid (overpaid) veteran players at the position and invested a third round pick on Jeremy Ruckert last year. If only they were good, especially when it comes to blocking. Washington is considered a masher, using his 6-foot 7, 270-pound frame to cave in defensive ends as well as smaller defenders. He’s admittedly a project as a route runner, but he averaged 7.5 yards after the catch thanks to 14 missed tackles on 45 receptions for the Bulldogs last season, per PFF. Since I still expect the Jets to heavily utilize two-tight end formations even after the change in Offensive Coordinators from Mike LaFleur to Nathaniel Hackett, it makes sense for the organization to add another young one if he’s this high on their Draft board.