The New York Jets are in a prime position for a team that didn’t make the playoffs last season with Aaron Rodgers returning from his torn Achilles injury. They’ve made additions at both wide receiver and offensive line in free agency, two areas of weakness last season, and just recently traded for Haason Reddick to replace the departed Bryce Huff at EDGE.
The Jets aren’t done improving their team for a shot at a Lombardi Trophy in 2024, however, as they have a premium draft pick at 10th overall late this month. According to one insider, however, the Jets could be shopping the pick to a team pursuing a quarterback if any of the top prospects fall.
Report: Jets Looking To Trade Down in First Round
Finding trade partners could be contingent on quarterbacks boosting their stock that land after Caleb Williams, Drake Maye, and Jayden Daniels, according to ESPN Jets reporter Rich Cimini.
“What they’d really like is a trade proposal from a quarterback-needy team, which would allow them to acquire a top-100 pick,” Cimini wrote. “A handful of teams behind them, most notably the Minnesota Vikings (11th), Denver Broncos (12th) and Las Vegas Raiders (13th), might be motivated to move up.
“It probably will be contingent on the availability of a top quarterback — Caleb Williams, Jayden Daniels, Drake Maye or J.J. McCarthy. Problem is, it’s unlikely that one of them will slip to 10. The Jets need Bo Nix to get so hot that a team wants to jump the crowd for him. A team also may covet the Jets’ pick as part of a leapfrog plan to a higher spot.”
Who Could the Jets Draft at No. 10?
New York has several options if the team decides not to trade down. One could be to shore up the team’s offensive line, despite signing Tyron Smith and Morgan Moses.
“Tyron Smith and Morgan Moses are both 33 years old, and the Jets have struggled with injuries midseason,” PFN Draft Analyst Ian Cummings wrote. “Troy Fautanu gives you one of the best, most versatile ‘sixth men’ in the league, and he can instantly take the torch as an impact starter at OT when the time comes.”
Fautanu measured at 6-foot-4, 317 pounds, with an arm length of 34 1/2 and a hand measurement of 9 1/2 inches. He played 993 offensive snaps, taking 623 pass-blocking snaps while protecting quarterback Michael Penix Jr.‘s blind side and 368 snaps as a run blocker. He allowed just two sacks in 2023 and zero in 2022.
Fautanu was named first-team All-Pac-12 in 2023 and second-team All-Pac-12 in 2022.
The team already made upgrades over Mekhi Becton, Duane Brown, and Max Mitchell at both tackle spots. Becton gave up a league-high 12 sacks last year and had 18 penalties (tied-second) called against him, while Mitchell allowed six sacks (tied-15th) and only had one penalty (tied-78th).
KEEP READING: Is the 2024 Offensive Line Class One of the Best Ever?
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