Jets' Top 2024 NFL Draft Targets
The New York Jets have an exciting opportunity to stock their roster with another difference-maker at the 2024 NFL draft. They have the No. 10 pick in a draft that has plenty of talent at the top.
The Jets are hopeful that 2024 is going to be the season that snaps a 13-year playoff drought. Finding another player who can move the needle with their top-10 pick would be huge.
New York's defense was great last season, but the quarterback situation was a disaster after they lost Aaron Rodgers for the season.
It was a rough season for the Jets faithful, but it at least brought them the 10th selection.
They are still at the mercy of how the board falls unless they trade up. But here are three top targets the Jets should be considering with their first pick.
WR Rome Odunze, Washington
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The best realistic scenario for the Jets is that some surprise selections or an early run on quarterbacks leaves a surprising player still on the board. Specifically, one of the top three receivers.
The trio of Marvin Harrison Jr., Malik Nabers and Rome Odunze cap a promising group of pass-catchers. They all carry top 10 grades on our big board with Nabers coming in just below the other two at No. 8.
The best fit is Harrison Jr., but he's also the least likely to still be available. Odunze would be the next best bet for Gang Green. The Washington product would be a good counterpoint to Garrett Wilson who is already the No. 1 receiver on the team.
The Huskies receiver is 6'3", 212 pounds and wins with his physicality. He's excellent at boxing out defenders and winning in contested catch situations.
That stands in enough contract with the 6'0", 192-pound Wilson. Odunze would give Rodgers and the Jets offense another potentially elite receiver with a different skill set.
The thought of Rodgers having both Wilson and Odunze at his disposal would be terrifying for opposing secondaries.
TE Brock Bowers, Georgia
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It's rare for a tight end to go in the top 10 of the draft, but Brock Bowers is a rare prospect.
Bowers has been on the NFL draft radar since his stellar freshman season at Georgia. He's the second-ranked player on our big board earning a pro comparison to George Kittle from B/R scout Derrik Klassen.
The Jets tight end room is currently good, but not great. Tyler Conklin was second on the team in receiving last season with 621 yards on 61 receptions.
Bowers would still be considered an upgrade. The two-time Mackey Award winner has the upside to become one of the game's elite tight ends and a legitimate No. 2 receiver in a good offense.
A report from ESPN's Jeremy Fowler on SportsCenter added fuel to the Bowers-to-the-Jets fire. Fowler reported that the Jets are "all in for 2024" and would be willing to take Bowers with the 10th overall pick if Rodgers wants a tight end.
The fact that they are all in for 2024 could be a significant piece to the puzzle. That might push them in the direction of going with a player like Bowers instead of, say, an offensive tackle who could be address a long-term need at a premium position.
OT Olumuyiwa Fashanu, Penn State
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Do the Jets want to maximize 2024 or build the best roster to win in the long-term? That's a question that could have a major impact on who they take with their first pick.
If it's all about 2024 then a pass-catcher makes sense. The Jets theoretically have answers at left and right tackle in Tyron Smith and Morgan Moses. Neither is a long-term answer, though.
Smith, 33, hasn't played more than 13 games in a season since 2015. He's still a high-level tackle when healthy, but it's virtually a guarantee he will miss some time along the way. Moses is coming off a strong season with the Baltimore Ravens, but he's 33 years old and missed three games last season.
The Jets found out how important offensive line depth can be last season. So while they don't need an immediate starter, it would make sense for them to target an elite offensive line prospect with the 10th pick.
Olumuyiwa Fashanu is the second-ranked tackle on our big board. He's the seventh overall player on our board, but the group of quarterbacks and receivers could make a fall to the 10th pick possible for the Penn State pass protector.
If the Jets feel that Fashanu could moonlight as a guard to start his career it would make sense to draft him, play him on the inside and have him available to kick out to tackle in 2024. In 2025, he would be a foundational piece of their offensive line.
Visit B/R's NFL Scouting Department hub for scouting reports on all of the top prospects.
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