Best available players for the NY Jets in the NFL Draft

[LAD_Brooklyn]

By Zack Rosenblatt 

The New York Jets aren’t scheduled to pick again until the third round of the NFL Draft, with their next selection coming at No. 72. They don’t own a second-round pick as part of the Aaron Rodgers trade from last year.

But general manager Joe Douglas might not want to stand pat, and he has the ammo to make a move up the board now, too. Thursday night, Douglas added a fourth-round pick (No. 129) and fifth-round pick (No. 157) as part of a trade with the Minnesota Vikings to move down one spot in the first round from No. 10 to No. 11, where the Jets picked tackle Olu Fashanu.

So now Douglas is armed with a third-round pick, three fourth-round picks, one sixth and one seventh that he can wield in any move up the board. And that might not be the worst idea, either, since the Jets have a clear need at wide receiver and players at that position are expected to fly off the board on Day 2. The Jets also could use some help in other areas, too.

Here are some prospects still available on Day 2 to keep an eye on

Day 2 prospects to watch

WR Ladd McConkey, Georgia: If the Jets’ goal is to make Aaron Rodgers happy, going up and getting McConkey in the second round might do it. He has inside/outside versatility and should be a reliable weapon on Day 1.

WR Brenden Rice, USC: The Jets hosted Jerry Rice’s son for a top-30 visit. He has a good combination of size and speed and would serve as a solid insurance policy for Mike Williams.

WR Malachi Corley, Washington State: He’s a compact, gadget-type receiver in the Deebo Samuel mold who can make things happen after the catch. Adding him wouldn’t bode well for Xavier Gipson’s role. The Jets hosted Corley for a top-30 visit.

WR Roman Wilson, Michigan: He’s a speedy slot receiver who stood out at the Senior Bowl playing for defensive coordinator Jeff Ulbrich’s team. He also visited the Jets.

WR Troy Franklin, Oregon: He’s a big-play weapon before and after the catch and The Athletic’s draft expert Dane Brugler compared him to DJ Chark. He also visited the Jets.

WR Keon Coleman, Florida State: He ran a slow 40-yard dash (4.61) but plays faster and feels like an ideal insurance policy for Mike Williams with a similar size and skill set.

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G Mason McCormick, South Dakota State: If Douglas wants to keep loading up on the offensive line, McCormick projects as a quality backup at all three interior spots.

DT Maason Smith, LSU: The Jets hosted Smith on a top-30 visit and could use some added depth at defensive tackle — as well as someone to develop into a starter next to Quinnen Williams long-term. Smith is 6-5, 306 and has an impressive combo of size and movement skills.

S Jaden Hicks, Washington State: Considered by many as the top safety prospect in this class. The Jets not only hosted him on a top-30 visit but privately worked him out, too. He has the talent to step in right away as the Jets’ No. 3 safety and push for a starting job — even after Chuck Clark and Ashtyn Davis were re-signed.

DB Cooper DeJean, Iowa: His fall to Day 2 was a surprise but if the Jets make a move back up into the second round after getting some additional picks on Thursday night, DeJean would be an intriguing target. He has the versatility and talent to thrive at both safety and cornerback. The Jets have a need at safety in 2024 and will have one at cornerback in 2025 with D.J. Reed, Michael Carter II and Brandin Echols all set to hit free agency.

RB Trey Benson, Florida State: The Jets were interested in Jahmyr Gibbs last year and they have no depth behind Breece Hall at the moment, so a running back early can’t be ruled out. Brugler compares Benson to Melvin Gordon III and he’d be an intriguing complement to Hall.

TE Ja’Tavion Sanders, Texas: Sanders is widely viewed as the second-best player at tight end, behind Brock Bowers, in this class with “dynamic talent before, during and after the catch,” per Brugler.

LB Payton Wilson, N.C. State: He was a standout at the Senior Bowl where Ulbrich was coaching and the Jets could use a long-term option to develop behind C.J. Mosley at linebacker.

DL Marshawn Kneeland, Western Michigan: He took a visit to the Jets facility and they might desire a defensive end with the versatility to slide inside at some point this weekend.

(Photo of McConkey: Steph Chambers / Getty Images)