How Morgan Moses trade affects NY Jets draft plans in 2024

The NY Jets have made important strides to fix their offensive line so far this offseason, adding a pair of former Baltimore Ravens to bolster the unit entering the 2024 season.

While the John Simpson signing was met with some hesitancy, the team's decision to trade for Morgan Moses, bringing the longtime NFL veteran back to Florham Park for his second stint, has been met with widespread praise and acclaim.

Moses gives the Jets a rock-solid, durable, and consistent starting right tackle, further raising the floor of an offensive line that was in shambles last season. He and Simpson helped fill out two of the three new starters the Jets were looking for entering the offseason.

The Jets still need a new left tackle, however, and while most assume that player will come in the 2024 NFL Draft, that's not a guarantee. The Moses acquisition could impact how the team approaches this year's draft.

What does the Morgan Moses trade mean for the NY Jets draft plans?

The most likely scenario is still for the Jets to address the position in the draft, but the team is unlikely to back themselves into a corner where they have to target any specific position come April. That means the Jets should and likely will add a contingency plan.

Longtime Green Bay Packers left tackle David Bakhtiari makes the most sense as said contingency plan for the Jets. Bakhtiari's obvious connection to Aaron Rodgers and Nathaniel Hackett makes him a logical target.

It wouldn't be wise for the Jets to rely on Bakhtiari as a full-time starter in 2024, given his injury history, but if he wants to reunite with his friend in New York on a cheap, short-term deal, this move would make a ton of sense.

The Jets could then go into the draft hoping to pair Bakhtiari with a rookie first-round pick at left tackle. Another contingency plan could be someone like Donovan Smith, who has previously hinted at his desire to play for his hometown Jets.

The Moses addition does complicate which offensive tackle prospects the Jets might target, however. Moses has been a right tackle for his entire NFL career — that's where he's going to play with the Jets.

This means whoever the Jets would draft with the 10th overall pick would be asked to play left tackle. That could limit the Jets' possible options in the first round.

Players like Oregon State's Taliese Fuaga, Alabama's JC Latham, and Georgia's Amarius Mims were all primarily right tackles in college. Ultimately, it'll come down to the Jets' individual evaluations, and if they believe any of those prospects could flip sides in the NFL. That's a risky proposition, however.

This could mean the Jets are more likely to prioritize prospects like Notre Dame's Joe Alt or Penn State's Olu Fashanu — both of whom were almost exclusively left tackles in college. There's no guarantee that either is available when the Jets pick, however.

There is one wild card to this equation, though. What if the Jets don't actually draft an offensive tackle in the first round? What if, in such a loaded wide receiver class, they attempt to finish building the offensive line in free agency, instead opting for a top receiver prospect in the first round?

The Moses trade makes this scenario a little more likely. If the Jets were to sign a player like Tyron Smith to play left tackle, they could then focus their attention and resources on adding a playmaker in the draft.

While that might not be the most likely scenario, it can't be entirely ruled out at this stage. The Jets will keep their options open and the expectation is that the team won't pigeonhole themselves into targeting one position in the draft.