NFL Draft: Jets have the flexibility to go in a number of directions
JACKSONVILLE, FLORIDA - OCTOBER 30: Brock Bowers #19 of the Georgia Bulldogs runs for yardage against Kaiir Elam #5 of the Florida Gators during the second half of a game at TIAA Bank Field on October 30, 2021 in Jacksonville, Florida. (Photo by James Gilbert/Getty Images) Credit: Getty Images/James Gilbert
The heat may be on Joe Douglas to get this draft right, but the Jets' general manager seems to have a Joe Cool attitude as the big day nears.
There’s good reason for that. Douglas’ work on the roster since the start of the new league year has positioned the Jets well for the NFL Draft, which begins Thursday. They no longer are pigeonholed into taking one position group with the No. 10 pick.
“Where we are now, we have great flexibility to go in any direction that we think is best for us moving forward,” Douglas said. “I think it opens the door to a lot of possibilities at 10.”
If the Jets don’t end their 13-year playoff drought, Douglas and Robert Saleh likely won’t return. Douglas has assembled a roster that should be a contender, though — especially if Aaron Rodgers stays healthy.
Douglas rebuilt the offensive line with the acquisitions of eight-time Pro Bowl left tackle Tyron Smith, right tackle Morgan Moses and left guard John Simpson. He also improved the receiver room by signing former Charger Mike Williams.
These moves have given Douglas the flexibility to go one of three ways with the Jets’ first-round pick:
Take a playmaker
If Washington receiver Rome Odunze and Georgia tight end Brock Bowers are there at 10, Douglas probably would be ecstatic. Either way, the Jets would get a playmaker for Rodgers and someone who immediately could make the offense more diverse and explosive.
Odunze led the FBS in receiving yards (1,640) and projects to be a No. 1 receiver pretty quickly. The Jets already have one in Garrett Wilson. Imagine what their offense would look like with Odunze, Wilson and Williams and Rodgers delivering the football.
Taking Bowers 10th is a strong possibility. He can line up anywhere — the slot, outside, at fullback. Douglas referred to Bowers as “a Swiss Army knife.” Bowers also would be a great addition to an offense that was predictable last season and struggled to move the football.
“Brock Bowers is not a tight end. He’s a multiple-option player,” ESPN draft analyst Mel Kiper said. “You can do anything you want with Brock Bowers. He’s just an offensive weapon.
“Would he fit in right with Aaron Rodgers? Doggone right he would. To have him and Williams and Wilson, all of a sudden you’ve gone from having questionable weapons to having a heck of a lot of them.”
Make the safe pick
About a month ago, the Jets were pretty much a lock to take an offensive tackle at 10. Now, if they do that on Thursday, it would be for insurance. Smith has missed 37 games the last four seasons and Moses is returning from surgery to repair a torn pectoral muscle.
It’s unlikely that Notre Dame’s Joe Alt will fall to 10, but right tackles Taliese Fuaga (Oregon State) and JC Latham (Alabama) and left tackles Troy Fautanu (Washington) and Olu Fashanu (Penn State) could be options.
The safe pick for the Jets would be to add tackle depth after injuries decimated the offensive line last season.
ESPN analyst Field Yates believes the Jets should “insulate” themselves against that. Yates also said he could see the Jets taking someone who will give them “great utility” at 10, given that they’re in win-now mode and it’s possible that a tackle won’t play if Smith and Morgan are healthy. Big if.
“It’s an awfully fine line that the team is walking right now,” Yates said. “I would lean personally towards taking a tackle, but I do think this team might be inclined to go with something that helps them more.”
Trade the pick
It’s plausible that the Jets could move up or back.
“I find the Jets as maybe one of the more intriguing trade-up or trade-down teams right now,” Yates said.
If the Jets deem one of the top three receivers — Marvin Harrison Jr., Malik Nabers or Odunze — a must-get or hear Bowers may be gone, Douglas will do everything he can to jump up to take them. Remember, it’s all about this season and making sure Rodgers has everything he needs to succeed.
The other scenario would be to trade down, maybe take an offensive tackle a little later in the first round and acquire a second-round pick, too. The Jets don’t have one in this draft; it went to Green Bay in the Rodgers trade. They could use the additional pick to fill other needs.
“We’re going to have more strategy meetings on who are those players that we would consider coming up from 10 to go get, how many of them are they, how far are we willing to go?” Douglas said. “Then on the flip side, if we get to 10 and we have a strong group of players that we love, how willing are you to move back, how far do you feel moving back? Those are all the conversations that we’re having.”
The Jets would have those conversations regardless, but they’re in a better place and with much more flexibility than they had about a month ago.
Al Iannazzone covers the Jets for Newsday after spending nearly two decades on the NBA beat with Knicks and Nets.
