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

Round 5, 143rd Overall, NY Jets: Zacch Pickens, DT, South Carolina

Defensive tackle has quickly become a pretty sizable need for the Jets following the departure of Sheldon Rankins and Nathan Shepherd in free agency. The Jets are desperately in need of some interior depth.

They might not find a day-one starter in Round 5, but they could certainly add someone to provide the depth they're looking for. I really like South Carolina's Zacch Pickens as a developmental project with a high physical ceiling.

A former five-star recruit, Pickens' production never quite matched his raw talent at South Carolina, but he showed noticeable improvement every year. At 6-foot-4, 305 pounds, Pickens is an excellent athlete with impressive power who is in need of technical refinement.

He's someone I can see playing a rotational role early in his career with the hope that he puts it all together by year three. The Jets need the depth, and his skill set is worth taking a chance on at this stage of the draft.

Round 6, 207th Overall, NY Jets: Kearis Jackson, WR, Georgia

The Jets are expected to part ways with two wide receivers this offseason. They already said goodbye to Braxton Berrios, and Corey Davis is expected to depart as well.

The Jets got their Davis replacement in Allen Lazard, but they don't have anyone to fill that Berrios role yet. That's where someone like Georgia's Kearis Jackson could come into play.

Jackson never occupied a featured role at Georgia, instead thriving as a backup slot receiver and return man. At 6-foot, 200 pounds, Jackson is shifty in open space and found some success as a manufactured-touches gadget player in Georgia's offense.

The Jets could target Jackson as a direct replacement for Berrios as a WR4/WR5 who doubles as a return specialist. That's fair value in the sixth round.