NFL Draft: Jets plan to give Aaron Rodgers more help in first round
Aaron Rodgers #8 of the Jets looks on after a game against the Washington Commanders at MetLife Stadium on Sunday, Dec. 24, 2023. Credit: Jim McIsaac
The window of Aaron Rodgers’ Hall of Fame career is closing. Jets general manager Joe Douglas won’t just let it shut without giving the quarterback everything he needs to win.
Douglas built around the 40-year-old Rodgers already this offseason, adding three starting offensive lineman and big-play receiver Mike Williams. In Thursday’s NFL Draft, Douglas will give Rodgers another new piece.
Signs are pointing to the Jets taking a pass-catcher with the tenth pick. Several are expected to go before the Jets are on the clock so Douglas may have to trade up to snag one.
“There’s a lot of special players on the offensive side of the ball and guys that are playmakers,” Douglas said. “Top-level blockers, top level players, dynamic playmakers - and they’re all different flavors…. It’s a really cool group.”
Receivers Marvin Harrison Jr., Malik Nabers and Rome Odunze and Georgia tight end Brock Bowers are the top playmakers. Odunze and Bowers are names to watch for the Jets, but you can’t rule out Douglas trying to jump into the top 5 for Harrison Jr., Garrett Wilson’s former Ohio State teammate.
The Jets are all-in to win this year. They have to be with Douglas, coach Robert Saleh and Rodgers – who is returning from a torn Achilles tendon - needing a successful season to remain together. Douglas will be aggressive in his efforts to land one of the playmakers.
Douglas never mentioned anyone by name, but he used superlatives to describe the three receivers and referred to Bowers as “a tight end that’s a Swiss-Army knife.”
If the Jets end up with any of them, it will be the first time in Rodgers’ 20-year career that his team drafted a pass-catcher in the first round.
The burning question is, will any of them be there at 10?
Four quarterbacks are expected to be taken early: Caleb Williams Jayden Daniels, Drake Maye and J.J. McCarthy. Notre Dame offensive tackle Joe Alt and Alabama edge rusher Dallas Turner are projected to go before the Jets pick, too.
All three receivers could be gone as well, which could leave Bowers for the Jets or they could move up for Odunze or one of the other receivers.
“If Odunze gets to 8, I could make a strong argument that the Jets could make an easy, painless flip with Atlanta, where Atlanta goes back to 10,” NFL network draft analyst Daniel Jeremiah said. “They could leapfrog Chicago [at 9] and take Odunze.”
Odunze is 6-foot-3, 212 pounds, and uses his size and strength to catch the ball in traffic. The first-team All-American out of Washington also can create separation with his speed and route running. The Jets would have an impressive receiver group with Wilson, Williams and Odunze.
Bowers has been linked to the Jets at 10. His ability to play inside, outside and in the backfield would give their offense a different look.
Only five tight ends since 1997 have been drafted in the top 10. But Douglas said you take one that high if you believe he can be the next Travis Kelce or George Kittle, or have the impact Detroit’s Sam LaPorta did as a rookie last year.
“Those are dynamic weapons for your offense and guys that put a lot of stress on the defense because they create mismatches,” Douglas said. “The right type of tight end can be a real weapon.”
The Jets also could go tackle for offensive line depth behind Tyron Smith and Morgan Moses. Both are 33 and have played more than 19,000 snaps combined.
Oregon State’s Taliese Fuaga, Washington’s Troy Fautanu, Penn State’s Olu Fashanu and Alabama’s J.C. Latham are possibilities. The Jets might trade down for a tackle and recoup the second-round pick they sent Green Bay in the Rodgers’ trade.
“If I had the choice of having a second-round pick and not having Aaron,” Douglas said, “I would take Aaron 15 times out of 10.”
Building around and for Rodgers will be the Jets’ plan on Day 1 of the draft. Shoring up the offensive line and adding to other rooms, including linebacker, quarterback and safety, likely will be the Jets’ objective with their six picks over Days 2 and 3.
Potential options for the Jets with the No. 10 pick
Rome Odunze, WR, Washington, Sr.
One of the top receivers in the country, Odunze led the FBS in receiving yards and would thrive catching passes from Aaron Rodgers and playing with Garrett Wilson.
Brock Bowers, TE, Georgia, Jr.
Bowers, who’s been compared to San Francisco’s George Kittle, can line up just about everywhere and would give the Jets a versatile playmaker to help diversify the offense.
Taliese Fuaga, OT, Oregon State, Sr.
The Jets need depth on the offensive line and insurance at tackle, making Fuaga and Washington’s Troy Fautanu appealing if they can’t grab a pass catcher.
Al Iannazzone covers the Jets for Newsday after spending nearly two decades on the NBA beat with Knicks and Nets.
