The Jets have seven picks during the 2024 NFL Draft.
Unfortunately, the Jets only have one Day 2 selection (No. 72 overall) because of the Aaron Rodgers trade last year.
Given the absence of a second-round pick, the Jets must make the most of their third-round selection. This will be a crucial opportunity for the Jets to bolster their roster and find another playmaker.
The Jets could go in a few different directions in the third round.
ADD MORE DEPTH AT WIDE RECEIVER
The Jets could use receiver depth. Garrett Wilson has been the Jets top receiver the last two seasons. However, there are significant questions about the depth chart behind him.
Gang Green signed Mike Williams to a one-year deal in March that could be worth $15 million. However, Williams is still recovering from an ACL injury he suffered in Week 3 with the Chargers.
With Williams’ status for training camp and potentially Week 1 in doubt, adding to the receiver room is necessary. The Jets thought they found their No. 2 receiver a year ago by signing Allen Lazard to a four-year, $44 million contract. But Lazard registered just 23 catches for 311 yards and a touchdown in 14 games.
Possible third-round receiver targets include Washington’s Jalen McMillan, Florida’s Ricky Pearsall or North Carolina’s Devontez Walker.
McMillan is a good-sized slot receiver at 6-1, 197 pounds. He is also an exceptional route runner and a tremendous third-down option.
In 11 games for the Huskies in 2023, McMillian caught 45 passes for 559 yards and three touchdowns. McMillian’s skill set would fit in perfectly with Wilson and Williams.
Like McMillian, Pearsall is an outstanding route runner who can quickly get in and out of his routes. He also has considerable big play ability and a great catch radius.
Pearsall finished with 98 receptions for 1,626 yards and nine touchdowns during his final two seasons at Florida after transferring from Arizona State. With the Gators, he struggled against physical cornerbacks at the line of scrimmage. But Pearsall should be a reliable pass catcher in the NFL for years to come.
Walker was Drake Maye‘s favorite receiver and for good reason. He loves to run vertical and crossing routes, where his speed can be displayed.
Walker finished with 41 catches for 699 yards and seven touchdowns for the Tar Heels. He does need to improve his route running, but an excellent wide receiver coach can polish that part of Walker’s game.
CONTINUE TO BUILD OFFENSIVE LINE
The Jets’ offensive line has been an issue for the last two seasons. In 2022, 11 different players started on their offensive line. Last season, the Jets had 14 different O-line combinations.
Gang Green addressed its offensive line this offseason by signing left tackle Tyron Smith, guard John Simpson, and acquiring right tackle Morgan Moses in a trade with the Ravens.
With two 33-year-old tackles and Smith not playing an entire season since 2015, it is time to add some younger depth at tackle. That’s why Washington’s Roger Rosengarten or Notre Dame’s Blake Fisher are potential targets in Round 3.
Rosengarten was a two-year starter for the Huskies and played right tackle, which was the blind side of left-handed quarterback Michael Penix Jr. He also showed versatility during Senior Bowl practices when he played at left tackle.
Rosengarten didn’t allow a sack in more than 600 snaps in 2023. However, he had his worst game of the season against Michigan during the national title game. Rosengarten allowed multiple pressures, which forced Penix into making errant passes.
Fisher is one of the younger players in the draft. He just turned 21 in March but has a lot of upside after starting 25 games at Notre Dame.
Initially, Fisher was the Fighting Irish’s starting left tackle during his freshman season until an injury kept him out all but two games. He returned in 2022 but moved to right tackle after Joe Alt became Notre Dame’s starter on the left side.
Fisher needs to work on his strength and technique, but he has the talent to eventually be a starting tackle on either side. Because of his athletic ability and hands, Fisher could also play guard in the league.
ADD A QB FOR THE FUTURE
Jets fans may object to selecting a quarterback on Day 2 of the draft. But Rodgers is 40 and coming off an Achilles injury. Backup Tyrod Taylor has an extensive injury history, including broken ribs last season.
The Jets should consider selecting only one quarterback in the third round and that’s South Carolina’s Spencer Rattler.
After being the No. 1 quarterback prospect coming out of Pinnacle High School in Phoenix in 2018, Rattler’s college career was a mixed bag. He began at Oklahoma where Caleb Williams eventually replaced him in 2021. But Rattler found new life at South Carolina where he showed scouts he was ready for the next level.
Rattler passed for 6,212 yards, 37 touchdowns and 20 interceptions during his two seasons with the Gamecocks. His massive arm allows him to make all the necessary throws on the field.
The biggest concern with Rattler is his lack of anticipation on his throws. Then there are the times when he is inconsistent, where he appears to overthink, and his ball placement is off.
But Rattler is potentially a future NFL starter. If he can watch and observe Rodgers and Taylor for the next year or two, the Jets could have their future quarterback in the building when Rodgers decides to step away.
