As a result of Aaron Rodgers’ season-ending ankle injury, the New York Jets have retained their 2024 first-round NFL Draft pick. This is due to Rodgers not fulfilling the 65% snap threshold for the Green Bay Packers to receive the Jets’ first-round pick. As such, New York will only lose its 2024 second.
While the Jets will be sad to lose Rodgers this season, retaining a first-round pick in a talented 2024 NFL Draft class is monumental. The coaching staff expects Rodgers to return for his 19th season in 2024. Having a healthy Rodgers while adding a premier rookie will be massive for New York’s playoff aspirations in 2024. Joe Douglas already improved the team this off-season, can he continue to do so in the upcoming draft?
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Jets 2024 NFL Draft Targets After Retaining Their First-Round Pick
With 16 games remaining, it is difficult to pinpoint where New York will be picking. The playoffs are still within reach with Zach Wilson starting due to the great talent and depth on defense.
After a 7-9 record last year, the team can remain close to a .500 record, with Hackett and Rodgers now running the offense. Three positions the team may target are offensive line, secondary and wide receiver.
Joe Alt (Offensive Tackle, Notre Dame)
Even before the injury of Rodgers, New York needed to address the offensive line. The returns of Mekhi Becton and Alijah Vera-Tucker were big and Joe Tippmann looks like the answer at the center long term. But Duane Brown is 39 and New York can’t go into 2024 with him protecting Rodgers’ blindside.
Joe Alt is one of the most coveted linemen in this draft class. The son of All-Pro Tackle John Alt, Joe stands at a towering 6’8″ and 322 lbs. Alt started immediately at left tackle as a freshman and kept the position through nearly 30 career games.
Protecting Sam Hartman has been priority number one and he has passed with flying colors. Alt has allowed just one pressure through 80 snaps in pass blocking thus far. Adding him to the offensive line should keep Rodgers confident heading into his age-39 season.
Joe Alt with one of the best run blocking performances of his career so far vs. NC State. pic.twitter.com/0ZjmhtBVPY
— Jordan Reid (@Jordan_Reid) September 13, 2023
Kool-Aid McKinstry (Cornerback, Alabama)
The adage “defense wins championships” still rings true for certain teams. Before Rodgers put on that green number eight jersey, New York returned to prominence thanks to the incredible defense built by Saleh and Douglas. With back-to-back first round picks used on the defensive line, why not add to an already strong secondary? Sauce Gardner became an immediate difference maker next to D.J. Reed. Add a corner of Kool-Aid McKinstry’s potential and New York could have a generational defense.
McKinstry has worked hard learning from Nick Saban to establish himself as a premier player in the 2024 NFL Draft. The junior cornerback is coming off a 1st-team All-SEC appearance as a sophomore. He has shown to be quite the player in press-man coverage with 18 forced incompletions last year.
Keon Coleman (Wide Receiver, Florida State)
After Garrett Wilson and Allen Lazard, New York must add a third wide receiver with upside. At 6’4″ and 215 lbs, Keon Coleman has a tremendous profile as a big-bodied receiver.
After transferring from Michigan State, the newest Seminole made headlines in his Florida State debut. Coleman accounted for three touchdowns and 122 yards on nine receptions against LSU. With his fourth 100-yard game in less than 2 years, Coleman continues to display playmaking upside with Jordan Travis starting. If he can maintain this pace, scouts all over the league will be after him.
But What About a Quarterback?
With uncertainty around the long-term status of Rodgers and Wilson, it is understandable that the question of quarterbacks would emerge. The 2024 class has a deep group of quarterbacks. It includes Heisman winner Caleb Williams, UNC’s Drake Maye and fast riser Shedeur Sanders out of Colorado. Unfortunately, barring any trades, New York will likely not be in a position to select one of those three.
However, using a first round pick to address a position need, New York can address quarterback with their third-round pick. The class is deep enough that Douglas can grab a top-10 quarterback prospect by this point.
Experienced players like Michael Penix Jr., Spencer Rattler and Tyler Van Dyke could all be available in the third round. If New York moves on from Wilson, any of those three would be solid protegees to learn behind Rodgers.
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