NY Jets 7-round 2023 NFL Mock Draft with Aaron Rodgers trade

NY Jets trade down with the Giants

But first, another trade! The Jets trade down 12 spots with the New York Giants, of all teams, and move back into the second round while also picking up a future first-round pick in the process.

The Jets lose their third-round pick but regain a second that they lost in the Rodgers swap. In this proposal, the Giants traded up for South Carolina cornerback Cam Smith, while the Jets fell to the latter half of the first round.

This trade was done with the idea of moving back to select a center, very likely Minnesota's John Michael Schmitz. As you'll see in a moment, that's not exactly what happened.

The value wasn't there at pick 13, so the Jets recoup a future first-rounder and move back into the second round. I really like this trade.

Round 1, 25th Overall, NY Jets: Peter Skoronski, OT, Northwestern

Despite the goal being to move down and select Minnesota's John Michael Schmitz, Northwestern offensive tackle Peter Skoronski was surprisingly still available. Not only that, but he was the top player remaining on PFN's big board.

The goal was to target Schmitz, but the greater goal was to upgrade the offensive line. Skoronski is the best way to do that.

Considered perhaps the most technically refined, NFL-ready offensive lineman in this class, Skoronski was a Unanimous All-American and the recipient of the Rimington–Pace Offensive Lineman of the Year in 2022.

There are concerns about Skoronski's length and his ability to hold up as a tackle in the NFL, but his addition gives the Jets some serious flexibility along their offensive line, whether the plan is to play him at tackle or guard.