How the Aaron Rodgers trade alters the NY Jets draft plans

Well, it is official! Aaron Rodgers is coming to the NY Jets. With the added pressure of the draft Thursday night, both teams came to their senses and worked out a deal on Monday afternoon, announced by ESPN's Adam Schefter just after 4 pm ET.

As details of the deal emerge, it's time to update the Jets' plans for the 2023 NFL Draft. As reported, the Jets' draft picks have shifted, and as a result, so too might their aims and goals for this year's draft.

The Jets will move from pick 13 to 15 in the first round and also lost pick 42 in the second round this year. The Jets now have picks 15 and 43 in the first two rounds and picks 112, 143, and 170.

With five picks, the Jets will have some decisions to make on draft night, particularly on Days 1 and 2. So, what will they do?

First Round

Having moved from pick 13 to 15 might change the Jets' first-round plans. As discussed in previous articles and mock drafts, the Jets are heavily interested in taking an offensive tackle in the first round. Moving from 13 to 15, although only a slight move, might change who is available.

The Jets appear to be targeting Broderick Jones out of Georgia. Will Jones still be available at 15 now? Since they sent out a fair amount of draft capital, I cannot imagine general manager Joe Douglas moving up anymore to ensure they get the tackle they want. Trading up would be costly.

I think Douglas and ownership will bank on Jones, Peter Skoronski, or Paris Johnson Jr. being on the board at 15 still. If not, I envision a trade back to recoup lost draft capital, regain some picks, and secure a lineman like Darnell Wright later in the first round.

I also think the Jets are now out of the running for Ohio State wide receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba. In previous mock drafts and opinion pieces, I myself alluded to the possibility of Smith-Njigba, assuming Corey Davis was included in the trade.

Since he was not, I do not see the Jets adding to the core of Corey Davis, Garrett Wilson, Allen Lazard, and Mecole Hardman, plus Denzel Mims, with the other holes on the roster.

I can confidently say that in the first round, the Jets will very likely take an offensive lineman, whether at pick 15 or later in the round. It'll be interesting to see if Douglas will trade down, get back some of the draft capital he just lost, and take Darnell Wright later in the round. He might now be the target for the Jets.

Second Round

In the second round, the Jets only have pick 43. After the Elijah Moore trade earlier this month, the Jets had consecutive second-round selections. It was assumed one of these picks would be used to acquire Rodgers, and it was. Losing pick 42, even though it was expected to be included, still hurts.

In previous mock drafts, it was speculated the Jets would use either pick 42 or 43 on a center to solidify the offensive line. However, with the re-signing of Connor McGovern on Monday, the need for a center is not as strong.

I would still be intrigued to see if the Jets would draft a center to back up/replace McGovern in the future, but that scenario becomes less likely now.

More likely options include a safety, edge rusher, or linebacker. Someone on the defensive side of the ball is the most likely option for a second-round pick.

Could Brian Branch still be on the board by then? If so, that would be a no-brainer. More likely would be prospects like Ohio State linebacker/safety Ronnie Hickman, Oregon linebacker Noah Sewell, or linebacker Daiyan Henley out of Washington State.

I'll also suggest that this is another spot the Jets could trade back from. If there is a quarterback or skill player on the board, or if a lineman slips down the board, the Jets could definitely move back from pick 43, especially if they hold onto pick 15.

Moving back here could net multiple later-round picks or even another Day 2 selection. Either way, fans can effectively rule out a center or second offensive lineman with this pick, while defense or a trade-down are the more likely options.

Later Rounds

In the later rounds, the Jets should focus on skill players or special teams standouts. The most important thing in the later rounds is to target players that can immediately make a difference on a win-now team.

Overall, this has to be the approach to the entire draft. Now that Rodgers has been acquired, the Jets are fully in a championship window and have become a win-now team. Adding players that can come in and start, thereby making the 2023 Jets better, is the most important aspect of this draft.

They can no longer draft backups or developmental projects. They cannot waste their picks on the "best player available" mindset and select players at non-premium positions or positions of need.

In many ways, this means Joe Douglas' previous draft plans become outdated. He needs to find ways to add players of significance at positions of need.

The good news is that a player like Rodgers covers up a lot of weaknesses on a roster. Assuming good health, the Jets could have been an 11-win team last year, and that's pretty comfortably an 11-win team.

Nailing this draft by adding two additional players at picks 15 and 43 that can contribute to winning this year is important. Let's see if Douglas, Robert Saleh, and the rest of the front office are up to the task.