NY Jets 2-round 2023 NFL Mock Draft after free agency

With some last-minute splash moves to address the defensive tackle shortage and backup quarterback, the NY Jets are in a pretty good spot heading into the 2023 NFL Draft. The biggest shoe to still drop, of course, is acquiring Aaron Rodgers.

Assuming that this gets done before the draft, the Jets will be surrendering some form of draft picks and players.

It makes all the sense in the world for both sides to reach a deal before draft night, as it would allow the Jets to get Rodgers in the building and allow the Green Bay Packers to address positions of need with a talent for this year and their young quarterback.

Below is a two-round mock draft constructed using Pro Football Focus' mock draft simulator.

The Aaron Rodgers trade

Before diving into the draft selections themselves, we need to address what picks the Jets will have. In the simulator, I put through my expected trade: Pick 42 in this year's draft, a sixth-round pick this year (Pick 207), and a 2024 second-round pick, with a series of elevators based on how much Rodgers plays and how well the Jets do in 2023.

With a deep playoff run or a guarantee from Rodgers to play in 2024, that pick could rise up to a first-rounder. Additionally, if Rodgers does not play in 2024, the Jets will get a third-round pick back in 2025.

NY Jets trade down with the Seattle Seahawks

At the 13th overall selection, the Jets are widely believed to want an offensive lineman and the three names that consistently get mentioned are Peter Skoronski of Northwestern, Paris Johnson Jr. of Ohio State, and Broderick Jones of Georgia. Of course, all three were off the board by 13, going in order at picks 8, 9, and 10.

There were some intriguing options at 13 still available. Would the Jets take Jaxon Smith-Njigba and pair him with close friend and former teammate Garrett Wilson in New York, creating arguably the most dynamic wide receiver group in the league for Rodgers?

Would they take interior defensive lineman Calijah Kancey of Pittsburgh and line him up next to Quinnen Williams long-term? Would they reach for an edge rusher such as Lukas Van Ness or Nolan Smith?

Ultimately, I think the Jets would trade down in this scenario. Without one of the top linemen available, and still too early to address other positions of need, the Jets could look to move down the first round and add more depth selections later in the draft.

In this scenario, I made a trade with the Seattle Seahawks, giving up pick 13 for picks 20, 52, and 123 in the 2023 draft.

Round 1, 25th Overall, NY Jets: Calijah Kancey, DT, Pittsburgh

After sliding down the draft board, many of the same names being thrown around at 13 are still on the board at pick 20. Much of the talent at this section of the draft is on the defensive side of the ball, as Calijah Kancey, safety Brian Branch, and defensive tackle Bryan Bresee are all still available.

I think Joe Douglas taps into his roots here, getting great value with the pick, and selecting defensive tackle Calijah Kancey.

It's not a flashy selection for the Jets, but it addresses a significant area of need. Fans might point to the recent signing of Quinton Jefferson as addressing the position, but Jefferson, already 30, is a very short-term fill.

The Jets still need a long-term answer to play next to Williams. A three-man rotation of Williams, Jefferson, and Kancey takes a position of need just a week ago and immediately makes it a team strength.

Kancey is graded as a 92 through PFF's analysis, tallying 19 career sacks at Pittsburgh and 17 in the past two seasons. He fits best as a pass-rushing interior lineman and should get plenty of one-on-one chances with Williams next to him, demanding double teams.

He offers the flexibility to slide outside and rush the passer as well in certain situations. The bottom line here is that Kancey offers positional flexibility at a position of need and fits schematically into what both the general manager and head coach are looking for.

Round 2, 43rd Overall, NY Jets: Dawand Jones, OT, Ohio State

With the 43rd overall pick in the draft, the Jets make a move to address the offensive line. Sitting there for the taking was Paris Johnson's teammate at Ohio State, Dawand Jones.

Primarily a right tackle, Jones can immediately step in and challenge Mekhi Becton for a starting spot as well as push Becton to make a move back to left tackle and be a plug-and-play guy right off the bat.

Jones played 763 offensive snaps last year and surrendered zero sacks and, more impressively, zero quarterback hits. He only allowed five quarterback hurries in a pass-heavy Ohio State offense.

Over the last two seasons, he has exclusively played right tackle, gaining a lot of experience there. At 6-foot-8 and 375 pounds, Jones is a mauler of a lineman and has exceptional reach to make first contact at the line of scrimmage.

For the Jets, this might be a dream scenario. They moved back in the draft to recoup the picks sent to the Packers in the Rodgers trade, and they still walk away in the first two picks with solid, versatile linemen that can win in the trenches and address positions of need.

Round 2, 52nd Overall, NY Jets: Luke Wypler, C, Ohio State

With their second pick in the second round, acquired via the trade back with Seattle, the Jets once again dip into the Ohio State offensive line pool and draft center Luke Wypler.

I'm personally still expecting the NY Jets to sign Ben Jones, in which case they could go in a different direction with this pick. But at the moment, center is a massive position of need on the roster.

Wypler is another experienced lineman, playing over 1,700 snaps the previous two years at Ohio State. In those two seasons, he only surrendered one sack and one additional quarterback hit.

He is experienced and mature and offers the opportunity to play right off the bat. At only 21, he is still young and will continue to develop, but he can also immediately play and make an early impact.

In the first two rounds and first three picks, the Jets have now solidified their offensive line, adding two legitimate starters with experience playing together the previous two years, and added a gamechanger to the interior defensive line.

The organization wants to build from the line of scrimmage, and they have now done that.

The rest of the 2023 NFL Draft

Although there might not be any flashy names in this mock draft, Joe Douglas and Robert Saleh aren't exactly flashy guys. They want to build the offensive and defensive line and then add pieces to the rest of the roster.

With a multitude of remaining picks, the Jets could still address holes at linebacker and safety, as well as depth pieces on the offense as necessary. In reality, the team is currently constructed pretty well.

The wide receiver and running back rooms are in good shape, especially with the news that Breece Hall will be ready for Week 1. Once Aaron Rodgers is acquired, the trio of Rodgers, Tim Boyle, and Zach Wilson is a good enough group to feel comfortable there.

Adding Wypler and Jones makes the line Week 1 ready, with Mekhi Becton, Laken Tomlinson, Alijah Vera-Tucker, and Duane Brown also ready to play.

Whatever direction the Jets end up going, look for additions on the offensive and defensive line, with flashier picks in later rounds. Acquiring Rodgers changes everything for this team anyways, and with him, the roster becomes significantly better.