3 winners and 2 losers for the NY Jets following the 2024 NFL Draft

The NY Jets have worked hard to amend the mistakes the organization made a year ago this offseason. The team has revamped its offensive line and wide receiver room with the hopes of competing for a Super Bowl in 2024.

But while a lot of that work came via free agency and the trade market, the Jets continued making progress toward their goal in this year's NFL Draft.

The 2024 NFL Draft saw the Jets add seven new players, bolstering their depth and raising the floor of what this team can be in the process. That was imperative after a free-agency period that served the purpose of raising the Jets' ceiling.

But not every player on the roster is better off as a result of the draft. Let's take a look at some of the biggest winners and losers on the Jets' roster following the 2024 NFL Draft.

Winner: NY Jets tight ends

There was no player more commonly mocked to the Jets in the lead-up to the draft than Georgia tight end Brock Bowers. Bowers was seen by many as the most realistic option for the Jets in the first round, but as it turns out, that was more of a smokescreen than anything.

The Jets passed on Bowers, opting to select Penn State offensive tackle Olu Fashanu instead. That's good news for the entire Jets tight end room.

Tyler Conklin and Jeremy Ruckert serve to benefit the most, as neither player will have their snaps cut into. It's also good news for guys like Kenny Yeboah and Zack Kuntz, who are both fighting for roster spots this summer. They each have one less player to worry about now.

Conklin remains one of the most underrated players on the Jets' roster, while Ruckert has grown into a solid role as the team's primary backup tight end. Expect both players to return in similar roles in 2024, only now Aaron Rodgers will be their quarterback.

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.

Loser: NY Jets defensive line

The departure of Franklin-Myers will help McDonald and Clemons see the field more, but it's hard to argue it's a good thing for the Jets' defense. In fact, while the Jets have made important strides this offseason, it's fair to question the handling of the defensive line.

The Jets downgraded from Quinton Jefferson to Javon Kinlaw, paying the latter almost double in the process. They essentially replaced Bryce Huff and Franklin-Myers with Haason Reddick's contract.

The Jets' defensive line is worse, on paper, than it was in 2023, even with the addition of Reddick. Robert Saleh has a long history of maximizing the talent of his defensive linemen, so it's best not to be too concerned with the unit.

Nonetheless, Franklin-Myers is a rock-solid above-average starter with no clear replacement in sight. The Jets' defensive line got worse this past weekend.

Winner: Aaron Rodgers, QB, NY Jets

The Jets went into this offseason with one goal in mind: help Aaron Rodgers. They did that in free agency, adding the likes of Mike Williams, Tyron Smith, Morgan Moses, and John Simpson to give Rodgers increased protection and another offensive weapon.

They continued that trend in the 2024 NFL Draft, using their first five picks on offensive players. Included was much-needed offensive line depth, a new wide receiver, and a pair of running backs who should compete for snaps as rookies.

Olu Fashanu gives the Jets not only their left tackle of the future but a player who will likely see the field plenty in his rookie season. Malachi Corley is a YAC machine who should make Rodgers' life a lot easier in the passing game.

Rodgers' supporting cast is better now than it was a week ago. That leaves him as one of the biggest winners from the draft.