NY Jets land Broderick Jones in star-studded 7-round 2023 NFL Mock Draft

We finally made it — it’s draft day, so it’s time for my final NY Jets seven-round 2023 NFL mock draft. As always, I will be using Pro Football Focus’ mock draft simulator.

Round 1, 15th Overall, NY Jets: Broderick Jones, OT, Georgia

I know this pick has been made so many times, but it is the most likely selection, especially after moving back to pick 15. The Jets need an offensive tackle, and if one of Paris Johnson Jr., Peter Skoronski, or Broderick Jones is available, it would be surprising if they were not the pick.

It seems like Johnson will go earlier than expected, possibly third overall. Maybe Skoronski falls because teams see him as a guard instead of a tackle due to his arm length, but Jones is the safest bet of these three to be available at 15.

If they are all gone, that’s where it could get interesting. Guys like Jaxon Smith-Njigba, Calijah Kancey, and maybe even Dalton Kincaid could enter the conversation.

Round 2, 43rd Overall, NY Jets: Keeanu Benton, DT, Wisconsin

This pick has been penciled in as a center for a while now, but with Connor McGovern back, it is not as big of a need. Instead, the Jets can address another big need with an interior defensive lineman.

The Jets lost Sheldon Rankins and Nathan Shepherd this offseason, and there are questions surrounding Quinnen Williams' contract extension. Someone like Keeanu Benton would be a good fit in the defensive line rotation.

This past season at Wisconsin, Benton had 10 tackles for loss and 4.5 sacks. He also earned an impressive Pro Football Focus pass-rush grade of 83.5.

Round 4, 112th Overall, NY Jets: Christopher Smith, S, Georgia

A need that the Jets could have potentially addressed earlier is safety, but there is not really anyone worth it at those spots. However, getting Christopher Smith on Day 3 would be a great addition to the safety room.

The Jets' safeties right now are Chuch Clark and Jordan Whitehead, who both play similar positions closer to the line of scrimmage, and Smith could be a good complement to them in the back end. Per PFF, Smith is the top "pure free safety" on the PFF draft board.

Smith had three interceptions in each of the last two seasons and earned a 79.8 deep coverage grade from PFF.

Round 5, 143rd Overall, NY Jets: Ricky Stromberg, C, Arkansas

The Jets can now afford to wait and get a backup developmental center, which they can do here with Ricky Stromberg. The Jets got Connor McGovern back on a cheap one-year deal, so although center is not a big need this season, they are still in search of a long-term solution.

Stromberg has quality experience as a starting center and allowed no sacks and just 11 total pressures on 416 pass-blocking snaps in 2022.

Round 5, 170th Overall, NY Jets: Mike Morris, ED, Michigan

The Jets will be thin at edge next season once both Carl Lawson and Bryce Huff could possibly leave. Taking an edge on Day 3, much like they did with Micheal Clemons last year, could help with the rotation this year but next year even more.

In 2022, Morris had nine sacks and 28 total pressures. Morris also earned an 86.6 pass-rush grade from PFF and had a 20.5% pass-rush win rate.