3 winners and 2 losers for the NY Jets following the 2024 NFL Draft
By Justin Fried
![Tyler Conklin Tyler Conklin](https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/upload/c_crop,w_2938,h_1652,x_0,y_71/c_fill,w_720,ar_16:9,f_auto,q_auto,g_auto/images/ImagnImages/mmsport/30/01hwkk9th5rddgx7htbz.jpg)
Loser: Israel Abanikanda, RB, NY Jets
Israel Abanikanda is undoubtedly the biggest loser on the Jets' roster coming out of the draft. The Jets added two running backs to their roster in the form of Day 3 picks Braelon Allen and Isaiah Davis.
Abanikanda was seen as the de facto RB2 behind Breece Hall throughout the offseason, but not only is that in question now, but it's unclear if the 2023 fifth-round pick will even make the 53-man roster at this stage.
The Jets didn't trust Abanikanda as a rookie due to his ball security concerns and issues in pass protection. Davis gives the Jets a much more reliable ball carrier and Allen is already possibly the best pass-blocking running back on the roster.
Where does that leave Abanikanda? It leaves him fighting an uphill battle to carve out a role in 2024.
Winner: Will McDonald/Micheal Clemons, DE, NY Jets
The Jets were active in the trade market during the draft, making a number of pick swaps with other teams, but their most notable and controversial trade involved the departure of a key defensive starter in John Franklin-Myers.
The Jets made the puzzling decision to send Franklin-Myers to the Denver Broncos in exchange for a 2026 sixth-round pick in what was essentially a salary dump. While that's bad news for the Jets' defensive line, it's good news for a pair of players who could be in line for an increase in playing time.
SNY's Connor Hughes made it clear that Will McDonald and Micheal Clemons are the two players most likely to benefit from Franklin-Myers' departure. Both players should receive an uptick in snaps.
McDonald played sparingly as a rookie while Clemons, who fits Franklin-Myers' archetype, has been underwhelming in a reserve role. Nonetheless, the Jets seem to be relying on both players to replace Franklin-Myers' production.