NFL Draft Rumors: Jets Would Take MHJ, Nabers, Odunze at 10 over Bowers, OT if There

While Georgia tight end Brock Bowers could wind up in the Big Apple, he may not be the New York Jets' preferred target with the No. 10 overall pick in the 2024 NFL draft.

ESPN's Rich Cimini reported Sunday "the Bowers buzz in the scouting community is loud, with many expecting the Jets to pair [quarterback Aaron] Rodgers with the talented playmaker."

Cimini added, however, that New York could look instead toward one of the top receivers (Ohio State's Marvin Harrison Jr., LSU's Malik Nabers or Washington's Rome Odunze) on the board or an elite offensive lineman.

"Here's what we're hearing: The Jets could pick a wide receiver in the unlikely event that one of the top three falls to 10," he reported. "They're also interested in offensive tackles, with Notre Dame's Joe Alt, Oregon State's Taliese Fuaga and Washington's Troy Fautanu thought to be their top preferences. Alt probably will be off the board, so the choice could come down to Bowers versus their OT2."

As Cimini referenced, there's a good chance none of Harrison, Nabers or Odunze is available when the Jets are on the clock with the No. 10 pick. They were all gone by the sixth overall selection in Bleacher Report's most recent mock draft.

Bowers would be the best pure pass-catcher the Jets could take in that scenario. In three seasons with the Bulldogs, he had 175 receptions for 2,538 yards and 26 touchdowns.

Pivoting to an offensive tackle instead would instead help to shore up a unit that was a problem throughout the 2023 season.

Between the additions of Tyron Smith, Morgan Moses and John Simpson, New York's pass protection should be much better. General manager Joe Douglas still might want to identify a long-term solution considering Smith and Moses are both 33.

But Douglas will have some flexibility in terms of where he and the team go in the first round.