Grading every pick the NY Jets made in the 2024 NFL Draft

The dust has settled on the NY Jets' 2024 NFL Draft class, and at first glance, it's hard to argue the team didn't get better this weekend. While it's fair to criticize individual decisions, the Jets, as a whole, are a better team now than they were on Wednesday.

That's including the controversial trade that sent defensive lineman John Franklin-Myers to the Denver Broncos in exchange for...virtually nothing. Puzzling trade aside, the Jets had a pretty strong draft week.

They landed their left tackle of the future, an immediate wide receiver upgrade, and a few other developmental building blocks who could carve out roles on the roster.

Grading draft picks immediately following the draft is far from an exact science, but the format does give us an excuse to analyze each selection the Jets made. That's exactly what we're going to do here.

Round 1, 11th Overall, NY Jets: Olu Fashanu, OT, Penn State

The Jets did their best to trade up for a star wide receiver, as both Malik Nabers and Rome Odunze appeared to be in their crosshairs. But when those trades fell through, the Jets pivoted to the next-best player on their board.

Olu Fashanu was seen by many throughout the draft process as the second-best offensive tackle prospect in this class behind Joe Alt. The Penn State product is a refined pass blocker with excellent length and athleticism in the mold of someone like Jets legend D'Brickashaw Ferguson.

Fashanu gives the Jets a long-term left tackle solution and much-needed depth behind Tyron Smith — who hasn't played more than 13 games in a season in nearly a decade — and Morgan Moses.

He has a chance to compete for a starting job right away with Moses or even John Simpson if the Jets want to try him at left guard. Either way, Fashanu will play as a rookie — likely more than Will McDonald played last year.

Grade: A-

Round 3, 65th Overall, NY Jets: Malachi Corley, WR, Western Kentucky

The Jets went into Day 2 of the draft with a very clear need at wide receiver, and they managed to land a player who was reportedly the fourth-highest wideout on their draft board.

While the Jets are certainly higher on Malachi Corley than most, it's easy to see why they fell in love with him in the pre-draft process. The so-called YAC king is one of the best run-after-catch receivers to enter the NFL in years.

The Deebo Samuel comparisons are obvious, but it's also easy to see shades of Curtis Samuel in his game. Corley plays with a running back's mentality and thrives with the ball in his hands.

Corley ran a limited route tree at Western Kentucky and will need to diversify his game to become more than a part-time player in the NFL, but his YAC ability already gives him a higher floor than many of the wide receivers in this class. The Jets got their guy.

Grade: A-

Round 4, 134th Overall, NY Jets: Braelon Allen, RB, Wisconsin

The Jets have drafted a running back every year that Joe Douglas has been their general manager, and that didn't change in 2024. The team traded down three times in the fourth round, ultimately coming away with Wisconsin's Braelon Allen.

At 6-foot-1, 235 pounds, Allen is a bruising between-the-tackles back who, at just 20 years old, is the youngest player in this draft class. Allen previously led Wisconsin in rushing at just 17 years old in 2021.

The former safety runs through contact and excels in short-yardage situations, an area the Jets desperately needed to improve upon. He also adds versatility on third downs as an excellent pass blocker.

Allen's short-yardage ability and pass-protection skills should give him the edge over Israel Abanikanda for the team's primary backup running back job behind Breece Hall.

Grade: B+

Round 5, 171st Overall, NY Jets: Jordan Travis, QB, Florida State

Is Jordan Travis going to be Aaron Rodgers' successor? It would be foolish to bank on it, but Travis is an appealing mid-round developmental quarterback prospect who should be very happy to learn behind Rodgers and Tyrod Taylor.

Travis was one of the most exciting players in college football last season, earning ACC Player of the Year honors en route to leading his Florida State Seminoles to an undefeated record. Unfortunately, a broken leg suffered in November ended his team's National Championship hopes and his own Heisman aspirations.

At 6-foot-1, 200 pounds, Travis is an undersized quarterback with modest arm talent, but teams rave about not only his dynamic playmaking ability but his mental makeup. He's a player who got better every year of his college career.

Travis clearly has a ceiling in the NFL, but he's a high-level creator who thrives outside the pocket. If you squint really hard, you might see some shades of Jalen Hurts in his game.

Grade: B

Round 5, 173rd Overall, NY Jets: Isaiah Davis, RB, South Dakota State

This was the most surprising pick of the day for the Jets, and if not for the fact that I just really like Isaiah Davis as a prospect, this grade would be even lower.

Despite drafting a running back in the fourth round, the team doubled down, selecting South Dakota State's Isaiah Davis in the fifth. Davis was an ultra-productive back at SDSU, rushing for over 3,000 yards over the last two seasons combined.

At 6-foot, 220 pounds, Davis is another running back who excels between the tackles, but he has enough wiggle and vision to his game to give him legitimate three-down potential at the next level.

Davis will compete with Braelon Allen and Israel Abanikanda for reps in a young and talented backfield. I like the player, but the fit is certainly questionable.

Grade: C+

Round 5, 176th Overall, NY Jets: Qwant'ez Stiggers, CB, Toronto Argonauts

Qwant'ez Stiggers has one of the most unique and inspirational stories in the NFL. We're not going to go into detail here, but click this link to read more about it. I promise you won't regret it.

As a player, Stiggers is obviously an unproven commodity, having never played college ball. His only notable tape comes from the 2023 season, which he spent in the CFL with the Toronto Argonauts.

At 5-foot-11, 204 pounds, Stiggers has good size and length for the cornerback position while his 9.34 RAS was among the best in this class. He's also still just 22 years old despite his long and arduous journey to the NFL.

Stiggers is a developmental defensive back prospect who could see time at cornerback, nickel, or even safety. It's hard to be mad about that on Day 3 of the draft.

Grade: B-

Round 7, 257th Overall, NY Jets: Jaylen Key, S, Alabama

This year's Mr. Irrelevant selection is only the second Alabama player in history to receive that "honor." Jaylen Key started one year at Alabama in 2023 after transferring from UAB.

Key spent four years at UAB, earning a starting job in a breakout 2022 season that he helped parlay into an offer from the Crimson Tide. At 6-foot, 208 pounds, Key has good size for the position and primarily played free safety in college.

He joins a safety room that features the likes of Chuck Clark, Tony Adams, Ashtyn Davis, and Jarrick Bernard-Converse, with a chance to make the 53-man roster if he impresses on special teams.

Ultimately, this is the final pick of the entire draft. What else is there to say? It's a fine pick.

Grade: C+