East Rutherford, NJ August 26, 2023 -- Jets quarterback Aaron Rodgers on the first offensive series for the Jets in the first half. The NY Jets against the NY Giants on August 26, 2023 at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, NJ, as the rivals play their final preseason game before the start of the NFL season.
When the New York Jets traded for future Hall of Fame quarterback Aaron Rodgers from the Packers back in April, the price was a swap of first round picks which dropped the Jets from 13th to 15th, a second and sixth-rounder last season and what will be a second-round pick this season. That was the price on the surface anyway. But in all reality, the Jets are likely going to be paying a bit more this offseason.
Having lost their second-round pick in the deal, the Jets are currently slated to pick 10th in the first round but are then without a choice until pick 72 in the third round. That just won’t do.
Serious injuries to both Mekhi Becton and Alijah Vera-Tucker have left the Jets with more questions than answers on the offensive line. There’s every reason to believe they have have one answer in Joe Tippmann who was named to the All-Rookie team.
Offensive tackle Carter Warren saw limited action but did enough to garner the attention of former Jets great Damien Woody, who recently said he believes Warren should be an option to start for the Jets in 2024.
It gets pretty ugly after that.
Left guard Laken Tomlinson has been the most durable offensive lineman since arriving two seasons ago, but he has also been one of their worst performing blockers.
At best, you can say the Jets currently have one high end starter (Tippmann), one question mark (Warren) and a poor performing guard (Tomlinson). As a result, the Jets will quite obviously be looking to go heavy on the line come draft time.
Without that second round pick on hand to take advantage of a deep class on the O-line because of the Aaron Rodgers deal, Douglas will likely look to be aggressive in hoping to add picks. Be it a trade down from 10, a tag and trade of Bryce Huff or perhaps even dealing 2025 picks to add some selections this year.
The good news for the Jets is that while they may have to surrender some assets to add picks, this year’s class is the right time to do it. The potential to add two starting linemen early on is very real and we’ve seen that on display in Mobile at the Senior Bowl this week.
The Jets have already been linked to Oregon State offensive tackle Taliese Fuaga according to Rich Cimini of ESPN New York.
But with or without Fuaga, there is an abundance of talent at tackle with Olumuyiwa Fashanu of Penn State, Alabama’s JC Latham, Amarius Mims of Georgia, Houston’s Patrick Paul and a slew of others.
And it doesn’t end at tackle. There are a pair of potentially elite centers in Cedric Van Prann and Jackson Powers-Johnson while Graham Barton, Cooper Beebe and Troy Fautanu offer help at guard.
If ever there was a year to need offensive linemen it was this year. And if ever there was a year to trade for a second-rounder after the Aaron Rodgers deal, this would be it for the Jets.