Jets mock draft 2.0: Who we’re selecting this year
There’s no denying the 2024 New York Jets will look a lot different than that of last year’s version.
General manager Joe Douglas and company have overhauled this roster in hopes of making the playoffs for the first time in 14 years.
While players like Bryce Huff and former first round pick Mekhi Becton have left or are unlikely to return in free agency, Gang Green made big moves on both sides of the ball.
The offensive line was the clear focal point of the offseason as the Jets signed two new starting tackles in left tackle Tyron Smith and right tackle Morgan Moses both to one year deals.
New York wasn’t done there as the organization made a big splash when it signed Mike Williams, arguably one of the best wide receivers available on the free agent market, to a one-year deal and pairing him on the opposite side of Garrett Wilson.
If it wasn’t clear already, the Jets are all in for next season with what will be a healthy Aaron Rodgers under center.
Using the Pro Football Network mock draft simulator, here’s our second attempt at predicting how the 2024 NFL Draft will go now with the Combine and free agency in the rear-view mirror:
Round 1, No. 10: Brock Bowers, TE, Georgia
The Jets front office have made it clear that a revamped offense is necessary after a season where the team had the fourth-lowest scoring offense in the NFL last year without Aaron Rodgers for all but four plays (15.8 PPG).
The first nine picks featured four quarterbacks and two wide receivers selected, including the Vikings trading up to the fifth overall pick and selecting Michigan quarterback J.J. McCarthy with the departure of QB Kirk Cousins in free agency.
This left the decision between Bowers and Washington wide receiver Rome Odunze both still on the board.
With the addition of Williams a week ago, it feels like if these two players are available, Bowers would be the answer here given Odunze has nearly the same frame (6-foot-3, 212 pounds) as the former seventh overall pick from the Chargers (6-foot-4, 218 pounds). The 6-foot-4 Napa, California native has been tabbed as one of the best tight end prospects in recent memory. He hauled in 26 touchdowns over three seasons in Georgia, with 13 of those scores coming in his rookie season in 2021.
Once he gets established in the offense, the two-time John Mackey Award winner (best TE) will be a mismatch nightmare for opposing defenses and open up the middle field, while also drawing coverage away from the other stars in this Jets’ offense in Wilson, Williams and running back Breece Hall.
Mock Draft 1.0 pick: Dallas Turner, EDGE, Alabama
Round 3, No. 72: Payton Wilson, LB, N.C. State
With no second-rounder due to the Aaron Rodgers trade a year ago, the Jets enter the 2024 NFL Draft having to wait nearly two full rounds before their next selection. After a heavy focus on offense so far this offseason, Gang Green uses their second pick here on Wilson.
The fifth-year senior is one of the best linebackers in this class but presents a high risk, high reward upside.
In 2023, Wilson posted career-highs in tackles (138), sacks (6) and interceptions (3), leading him to be chosen as the ACC Defensive Player of the Year and the recipient of the Bednarik Award a season ago.
However, he had major durability issues in high school and college (two ACL tears and a shoulder injury).
While there’s certainly some hesitancy with his long term health, the reward outweighs the risk here for the Jets and select Wilson here.
Mock Draft 1.0 pick: Roman Wilson, WR, Michigan
Round 3, No. 111: Delmar Glaze, OT, Maryland
Gang Green solidified the offensive line with the additions of Smith and Moses during free agency.
They shouldn’t stop there though with both starting tackles being 33 years old and having had previous injury histories.
That brings me to Glaze.
The great thing about the 6-foot-5 tackle is that he has the ability to play as a swing tackle, which means he can play either left or right tackle if Smith or Moses had to miss any time next season.
Glaze switched back and forth between the two sides throughout his college career and finished playing right tackle his senior year where he played 802 snaps and allowed nine QB hurries, two QB hits and two sacks in 12 games for the Terrapins.
A team can never have too many quality offensive linemen and the Jets add one here with Glaze in the fourth round.
Mock Draft 1.0 pick: Jaden Hicks, S, Washington State
Round 4, No. 135: Jalyx Hunt, EDGE, Houston Christian
With their second pick in the fourth round, the Jets go with back-to-back defensive selections here.
Hunt is one of the rawest prospects in this draft class but has great size (6-foot-4, 248 pounds), excelling with multiple pass rush moves and great close quarters footwork, according to a profile done by the Draft Network.
After starting his college career originally at safety, the senior had 7.5 combined sacks and 110 total tackles in 2022 and 2023.
He might be a bit of a project here that takes time to make impact in the NFL but New York selects Hunt in this spot.
Round 6, No. 185: Trey Taylor, S, Air Force
In my first mock, I had Gang Green addressing the secondary earlier in the draft with their second third-round pick.
After passing on it so far, that ends here with New York selecting Taylor in the sixthround.
The 6-foot Frisco, Texas native played three years and increased his interception total each season, ending 2023 with three INTs and recorded a career-best 74 total tackles. Taylor would be a solid depth piece with the organization signing safety Chuck Clark and Tony Adams already on the opposite side.
Mock Draft 1.0 pick: Tommy Eichenberg, LB, Ohio State
Round 7, No. 256: Sam Hartman, QB, Notre Dame
Easily the most head turning pick of this draft class would be Hartman.
While the Jets did bring in Tyrod Taylor to back up Rodgers, they need to have another option in mind with both QBs missing time due to injuries last season. Hartman could be a seamless transition, as he’s a known pocket passer with 101 passing touchdowns over his last three seasons at Wake Forest and Notre Dame. Despite having 34 interceptions over this time period, he’s cut down on interceptions each season -going from 14 in 2021 to eight in 12 games in 2023.
If he’s available like he was in this mock draft simulator, the Jets should take a flier on Hartman if/when they decide to trade or let go former No. 2 overall pick Zach Wilson this offseason.
Mock Draft 1.0 pick: Jamree Kromah, DT, James Madison
Round 7, No. 257: Kyle Hergel, OG, Boston College
The Jets currently own the last pick in the 2024 NFL Draft.
New York is hoping Hergel will be anything but “Mr. Irrelevant,” the tag that gets placed on the last player selected in each draft.
Hergel transferred as a fifth-year senior from Texas State to Boston College and excelled in his final collegiate season.
The Toronto, Canada native conceded just four combined QB hurries and hits while not allowing a single sack in 868 snaps.
He can play multiple interior line positions as he suited up at right guard the first four years of his career between North Dakota and Texas State before moving to left guard last season for Boston College.
Mock Draft 1.0 pick: Jackson Mitchell, LB, UConn