NY Jets make Syracuse fans very happy in latest 7-round 2025 NFL Mock Draft

The NY Jets are just weeks away from ushering in a new era with a head coach, general manager, and likely a quarterback overhaul. This offseason represents one of the most pivotal periods in franchise history as the team seeks to reverse decades of misery.

The 2025 NFL Draft offers the Jets a crucial opportunity to lay the foundation for their future and secure cornerstone players to revitalize the franchise. With a projected top-10 pick, the team should be positioned to do just that.

Though the draft is still a few months away, we can do our best to project what a hypothetical Jets draft class might look like. Here are the results of our latest seven-round Jets 2025 NFL Mock draft with the help of Pro Football Focus' mock simulator.

NY Jets 2025 NFL Mock Draft

Round 1, Pick 7: Abdul Carter, EDGE, Penn State

Abdul Carter is one of the few blue-chip prospects in this year's draft class. The Penn State standout was named the Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year and a Unanimous All-American following a stellar junior season in 2024.

At 6-foot-3, 252 pounds, Carter switched from off-ball linebacker to edge rusher this season and quickly established himself as one of the premier pass rushers in college football.

Carter blends impressive athleticism with a dynamic first step and a quality pass rush arsenal given his lack of experience to form likely the best edge rusher prospect in this draft. In a draft class that lacks a ton of high-end talent, Carter is one of the few players with genuine All-Pro upside.

Round 2, Pick 39: Xavier Watts, SAF, Notre Dame

The Jets' defense took a sizable step back in 2024, which is why it wouldn't be a surprise to see the team load up on defensive players early. We snagged one of the best defenders in the country with Xavier Watts in Round 2.

The star safety has been the heartbeat of Notre Dame's defense over the last two seasons, winning the Bronko Nagurski Trophy as the nation's best defender in 2023 before earning Consensus All-American honors in 2024.

What Watts lacks in elite speed he makes up for everywhere else. He's an aggressive downhill safety who plays with a hot motor that coaches will fall in love with. Watts is a day-one starter with Pro Bowl upside if he can become a more versatile cover safety.

Round 3, Pick 94: Ajani Cornelius, OT, Oregon

The Jets enter the offseason with four of their five projected starting offensive linemen already under contract, and they could make it a clean sweep if they bring back Morgan Moses. Either way, the team should look to target an offensive tackle at some point in the middle rounds of the draft.

Oregon's Ajani Cornelius makes sense as a late Day 2 right tackle prospect who could eventually develop into a starter. Cornelius transferred from Rhode Island to Oregon in 2023 and has spent the last two years as the Ducks' starting right tackle.

At 6-foot-5, 310 pounds, Cornelius has impressive size and raw power that make him a force in the run game, but he tends to be a little stiff in pass protection. He's an ideal developmental right tackle prospect who could take over for Moses as soon as his rookie year.

Round 4, Pick 108: Oronde Gadsden II, TE, Syracuse

Syracuse fans are going to be very pleased with this mock, and their enthusiasm can begin with the selection of Orange tight end Oronde Gadsden II here in the second round.

Gadsden has been one of the focal points of Syracuse's offense over the last three years, although a Lisfranc injury cost him almost the entire 2023 season. He returned with a vengeance in 2024, hauling in a career-high 73 catches for 934 yards and seven touchdowns.

At 6-foot-5, 210 pounds, Gadsden is a former wide receiver who has actually developed into a quality in-line blocker over the last couple of years. He's still working his route running and expanding his route tree, but the tools are there for Gadsden to be a very good NFL tight end in the near future.

Round 5, Pick 143: Kyle McCord, QB, Syracuse

After drafting one of Syracuse's leading receivers a round earlier, the Jets double-down on the New York school by landing quarterback Kyle McCord. McCord was one of the most impressive quarterbacks in college football in 2024.

The Ohio State transfer and New Jersey native led the ACC with 4,779 passing yards, 34 touchdowns, and 12 interceptions. He was one of only 10 players to receive at least one Heisman vote.

McCord lacks elite arm talent and doesn't have the traits teams typically search for in a franchise quarterback, but his 2024 film was as impressive as any QB in this class. The new Jets regime will likely be looking to revamp the team's quarterback room in 2025, and McCord could be a fun Day 3 target.

Round 5, Pick 160: Lander Barton, LB, Utah

The Jets are expected to move on from C.J. Mosley in the offseason, and even if the team re-signs Jamien Sherwood, it would make sense to add to their linebacker room in the 2025 NFL Draft. Utah's Lander Barton is an intriguing Day 3 prospect with upside.

At 6-foot-4, 236 pounds, Barton blends excellent size with outstanding athleticism with the potential to be a three-down linebacker at the next level. He comes from an athletic family too, as both of his brothers, Cody and Jackson, are currently in the NFL.

Barton will need to improve his block-shedding ability to reach his ceiling in the NFL, but the Jets have a lengthy history of developing Day 3 linebacker prospects. This former Utah standout could be next on that list.

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Round 6, Pick 183: DeMonte Capehart, iDL, Clemson

The Jets' run defense is arguably the biggest weakness on that side of the ball entering the offseason. The team needs to find a reliable run stuffer to bulk up the interior of their defensive line.

Clemson's DeMonte Capehart could make sense as a day 3 target. Capehart is a big-bodied run-stopper who stands at 6-foot-5, 315 pounds. He doesn't offer much as a pass rusher (he has just two sacks in his college career), but he's graded out as one of the nation's best run defenders over the last few years.

Day 3 draft picks are all about finding guys who can fill specific roles on an NFL roster, and Capehart fits that mold perfectly.

Round 6, Pick 206: Elijhah Badger, WR, Florida

Elijhah Badger has a chance to rise up draft boards in an abnormally thin wide receiver class this year. The Arizona State transfer quickly became a go-to target in Florida's offense in 2024, finishing the year with 39 catches for a whopping 906 yards and four touchdowns.

Badger is a downfield threat, averaging over 20.0 yards per catch in his senior season. He combines impressive deep speed with excellent hands — he didn't drop a single pass in 2024 — to provide a solid foundation to build around.

Badger's speed could also make him dangerous on special teams, particularly in the return game, at the NFL level. He has a chance to stick around on an NFL roster as a Day 3 wide receiver prospect.