Mar 2, 2024; Indianapolis, IN, USA; Penn State offensive lineman Olu Fashanu (OL18) talks to the media during the 2024 NFL Combine at Lucas Oil Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Trevor Ruszkowski-USA TODAY Sports
Mention grading a team’s NFL draft the day after the fact and you’re sure to hear from draft Karens telling you it’s too early to grade the outcome. This is obviously true, but grading a team’s approach is perfectly appropriate. I mean, if the Jets had drafted seven punters this weekend I’m sure everyone would have some thoughts on what in the world they were doing.
So with that in mind, let’s take a look at the Jets 2024 draft class.
Round 1 (11th overall): LT Olu Fashanu, Penn State
For the second consecutive year the Jets used an early first-round pick on a player who may not play much. A surprising decision given the Jets are reportedly building to win now.
Given the health history of left tackle Tyron Smith it’s possible Fashanu plays quite a bit, but if Smith duplicates his 2023 season in which he started 13 games it’ll be an uneventful rookie season for Fashanu.
A potentially wasted pick for 2024 but in terms of a long-term pick it’s brilliant. It gives the Jets a guy who is expected to be a stud tackle for the next decade. Combine Fashanu’s talent with his character and he’s an impossible player and person not to like.
Check out Fashanu’s JetNation draft profile right here.
Grade: B+
Round 3 (65th overall): WR Malachi Corley, Western Kentucky
This is a pick that’s more in line with trying to win now. Corley’s skill set marries up perfectly with Aaron Rodgers’ playing style and should give the Jets a weapon at receiver who take advantage of having Garrett Wilson and Mike Williams create room underneath.
An ultra physical receiver who will likely spend most of his time in the slot, Corley figures to be an early impact player.
Check out Fashanu’s JetNation draft profile right here.
Grade: A+
Round 4 (134th overall): RB Braelon Allen, Wisconsin
Joe Douglas loves his running backs. In fact, he has taken one in every single draft since coming to the Jets and he got a good one here in Allen. The Wisconsin product is an excellent combination of burst, power, contact balance.
He uses these traits to bounce hit the hole in a hurry and bounce off of defenders to gain yards after contact. His carries will be limited behind Breece Hall so it’s another part-time player, but a very good one nonetheless.
Grade: B
Round 5 (171st overall): QB Jordan Travis, Florida State University
Their need to draft a develop a successor to Aaron Rodgers is well-known at this point and the Jets did a good job in getting their potential starter of the future in Travis.
A mobile quarterback who protects the football, finds the end zone and is a highly respected leader in his locker room. Outside of Fashanu, this could end up being the best pick in this class when all is said and done.
Grade: A
Round 5 (173rd overall): RB Isaiah Davis, South Dakota State
Did we mention Joe Douglas’ feelings on taking running backs in the NFL draft? Davis becomes the sixth back Douglas has drafted in five years and this one is a head scratcher.
This isn’t to say Davis isn’t talented, but with Breece Hall and Braelon Allen in front of him, taking an offensive lineman in this spot would have fit better with what many thought was an offseason goal of building a wall around Aaron Rodgers from starters to the last man on the depth chart.
So in a draft where offensive line reinforcements were expected to be on the way, the Jets took more running backs than they did big men up front to do the blocking.
This pick also signals the likely end to last year’s fifth-round pick Izzy Abanikanda. A talented runner that the Jets may not know how to deploy.
Grade: D
Round 5 (176th overall) CB Qwan’Tez Stiggers, CFL
Depth at cornerback was a must as the Jets have nothing to proven corners behind Sauce Gardner, DJ Reed and Brandin Echols. We weren’t able to find any CFL film to review Stiggers ourselves but scouting reports suggest he’s an ultra athletic corner with very high upside. And while highlight reels never tell the whole story, what’s out there is highly impressive. Can’t knock that.
Grade: B+
Round 7 (257th overall) S Jaylen Key, Alabama
Much like last season when they snagged LSU DB Jarrick Bernard-Converse, the Jets roll the dice on a versatile DB from a major program to see what they can make of him. A sure tackler who lines up deep and in the slot where he covers receivers and tight ends, Key will have a shot to stick on a roster with little depth at safety. The final pick in any NFL draft is bound to be a long shot.
Grade: C+
Overall Summary:
The Jets spent two of their three top picks on guys for whom there is a path for them to play a very low number of snaps. In fact, the Jets are hoping Fashanu never sees the field as it would mean Tyron Smith stayed healthy which is little more than a pipe dream.
Allen will be RB2 behind Breece Hall and probably play roughly 30% of the team’s snaps while Davis, assuming he beats out Izzy Abanikanda, will likely play even less than that.
Overall Grade: B-