NY Jets host top OT prospect Broderick Jones on pre-draft visit

Justin Fried

NY Jets, Broderick Jones / Kevin C. Cox/GettyImages

The NY Jets are keeping a close eye on the top offensive line prospects in this year's NFL Draft, and that pertains to perhaps the consensus OT1 in this class, Georgia's Broderick Jones.

ESPN's Jeremy Fowler is reporting that Jones had an official pre-drat visit with the Jets on Wednesday. Jones is also set to visit the Tennessee Titans, New England Patriots, Arizona Cardinals, and Chicago Bears.

A two-year starter at left tackle, Jones is a former five-star recruit who shined both on the gridiron and basketball court in high school. Jones won multiple National Championships at Georgia and was named first-team All-SEC following his redshirt sophomore season in 2022.

At 6-foot-4, 315 pounds, Jones is one of the most highly touted offensive line prospects in this year's draft. What he lacks in experience and polish, he makes up for with high-end physical traits.

Broderick Jones is a popular mock draft projection for the NY Jets

Perhaps no player has been mocked to the Jets more frequently than Jones. The 21-year-old has the highest ceiling of any tackle in the 2023 NFL Draft with excellent athleticism and impressive raw power.

Jones is a mauler in the run game as he uses his agility to get out and make blocks in open space. His highlight reel is riddled with punishing pancake blocks and powerful punches. He's the best finisher in this class, and I don't think it's particularly close.

However, Jones is still a work in progress. He has just 19 career starts under his belt and clearly lacks the polish and technique of a more experienced lineman. Jones tends to be a little overaggressive when engaging in blocks, almost as if he's too eager to stonewall his opponent.

His tape reminds me a lot of Mekhi Becton's coming out of Louisville. Jones isn't quite as big as Becton, but he plays with a similar finisher mindset and thrives when mauling second-level defenders in open space.

Jones projects as an early starter, although it may take him some time to find his footing in the NFL. I wouldn't be surprised to see an Andrew Thomas-like trajectory from Jones, Georgia connection aside.

The Jets are obviously in the market for offensive tackle help following their failed pursuit of Orlando Brown Jr. Many expect the team to target a tackle early in the draft, and Jones figures to be near the top of their list.

It should come as no surprise that the Jets are bringing him in for an official visit.

Justin Fried

Justin Fried is an editor for FanSided who has over seven years of experience covering the NFL and various other sports. A diehard Jets fan since birth, Justin has served as the editor for The Jet Press since 2019, interviewing athletes such as Sauce Gardner, Curtis Martin, LaDainian Tomlinson, Joe Klecko, and many others. Justin has also worked closely with brands like Red Bull to help highlight the niche sectors of the sporting world. His four-part series on the sport of breaking remains one of his proudest pieces of work. In his spare time, Justin is an avid pro wrestling fan who is fortunate enough to have traveled to nearly 30 different countries.