Aaron Rodgers’ first year in New York lasted only four plays after the quarterback suffered a torn Achilles tendon in the season opener against Buffalo.
It took a blockbuster trade with Green Bay to acquire the future Hall of Famer. The Jets sent the Packers second- and sixth-round picks in last year’s draft and a 2024 second-round pick that would’ve become a first-rounder had the quarterback played 65 percent of the snaps during the season.
The backup quarterback combination of Zach Wilson, Trevor Siemian and Tim Boyle struggled to get the Jets over the line, as the team finished 7-10 and was awarded the No. 10 pick in the upcoming NFL draft.
With only one pick in the first two rounds, the Jets are faced with a crucial decision.
Given their position at No.10, they can’t afford to overreach for a player who doesn’t have a first-round grade.
While it’s okay to approach the draft by looking at a team’s needs, you also have to consider the players still available on the board.
The Jets’ priority will be to get Rodgers some help, so we know they won’t pick a quarterback at No. 10. But just about every other position outside of special teams might be on the table.
Odds for position of Jets’ first drafted player
| Position | Odds | Position | Odds |
|---|---|---|---|
| Offensive Line | +130 | Defensive Line/Edge | +2000 |
| Tight End | +200 | Cornerback | +2000 |
| Wide Receiver | +240 | Quarterback | +6000 |
A tight end at No. 10?
It’s a rarity for players with the highest grades to fall in the draft, unless there’s a character issue. This scarcity means teams picking later often need to be more adaptable with their available options.
As for the Jets, FanDuel currently lists 36 different players they can select with the No. 10 pick. Georgia tight end Brock Bowers has the shortest odds on the board at +250.Â
But is it really worth it to draft a tight end in the first round?
Only 10 have been drafted in the first round since 2011. Across the league, some of the best tight ends went in later rounds.
Those tight ends include players like Travis Kelce (No. 63, third round), Mark Andrews (No. 86, third round), Dallas Goedert (No. 49, second round) and George Kittle (No. 146, fifth round).
It’s worth noting that all four players received contract extensions with their original teams.
Moreover, only four tight ends have been in the top 10 since the 2000 NFL Draft. Those players include Kellen Winslow Jr. (No. 6, Browns 2004), Vernon Davis (No. 6, 49ers 2006), T.J. Hockenson (No. 8, Lions 2019) and Kyle Pitts (No. 4, Falcons 2021).
Hockenson and Pitts are active players in the league, and the latter is still on his rookie deal.
So, compared to the three other tight ends selected in the top 10, Davis was the only player rewarded with a contract extension to remain with the team that initially drafted him.
More-realistic option for Jets
While Bowers is clearly picking up steam in some mock drafts, a better play would be targeting the Jets to select an offensive lineman with the 10th pick. This option is available at FanDuel at +130, while the odds for the Jets selecting a tight end are at +200.
Those numbers suggest there is more variety for the Jets should they target an offensive line position.
The Jets have gotten nothing out of the Rodgers trade thus far, and his current contract is only guaranteed through the 2024 season. Keeping Rodgers upright for the year should be their top priority.
Although New York added left tackle Tyron Smith, right tackle Morgan Moses and guard John Simpson, Smith and Moses are on the wrong side of 30.
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Injuries limited Smith to only 30 games over the past four seasons, while Moses needed offseason surgery to repair a torn pectoral muscle.
Given the depth of talent in this year’s draft, the Jets have a prime opportunity to address their need for a quality tackle. With as many as six projected in the top 20, the Jets can secure an offensive lineman worthy of a top-10 grade.