NY Jets 7-round mock draft following the NFL Combine

The NY Jets enter a pivotal offseason for the franchise — one that is expected to define the futures of every member of the current regime. If Joe Douglas and company don't play their cards right, this could very well be their final draft as members of the Jets organization.

That's because the Jets will enter the 2024 season with legitimate Super Bowl aspirations. The return of Aaron Rodgers will certainly help, but the Jets still have a few roster holes that need filling this offseason.

The 2024 NFL Draft presents a perfect opportunity for the Jets to address many of their biggest needs. That's exactly what we attempted to do in our latest seven-round Jets mock draft.

With the help of Pro Football Focus' mock draft simulator, here is our post-NFL Combine take on how the draft might shake out for the Jets come April.

Round 1, 10th Overall, NY Jets: Olu Fashanu, OT, Penn State

Notre Dame's Joe Alt and Oregon State's Taliese Fuaga were already off the board at this point, but the Jets were still able to land one of the top offensive tackle prospects in this year's class in Olu Fashanu.

The Penn State product is a two-year starting left tackle who was named both a Consensus All-American and the Rimington-Pace Offensive Lineman of the Year in 2023.

Fashanu has prototypical size for the left tackle position at 6-foot-6, 319 pounds. He's a well-rounded, polished pass protector who projects as a day-one starter with All-Pro potential.

Bleacher Report's pro comparison for Fashanu in their scouting report is Jets legend D'Brickashaw Ferguson. It's safe to say that Jets fans would sign up for another Ferguson protecting their QB's blindside for the next decade-plus.

Round 3, 72nd Overall, NY Jets: Christian Haynes, OG, Connecticut

It's difficult to predict exactly where the Jets will go with their mid-round picks without knowing what the team does in free agency first. For now, all we can do is draft for need — and the offensive line is undoubtedly the team's biggest need.

That's why we doubled up here, selecting Connecticut guard Christian Haynes in the third round. Haynes is an experienced player, starting 49 consecutive games at right guard over four years with the Huskies.

At 6-foot-3, 317 pounds, Haynes may be a tad undersized for the NFL, but he makes up for it with an NFL-ready skill set, solid fundamentals, above-average athleticism, and impressive raw power.

The Jets will be in the market for offensive line help in free agency, but Haynes has the potential to step in as a day-one starter at right guard if need be. This is a good value pick at this stage of the draft.

Round 4, 112th Overall, NY Jets: Javon Baker, WR, UCF

This year's draft class is absolutely loaded with Day 2 and Day 3 wide receiver prospects, so much so that some are bound to slip through the cracks and get overlooked. That's been the case for UCF's Javon Baker.

A former Alabama recruit, Baker transferred to UCF in 2022 before breaking out as one of the more productive receivers in the country this past season. His 52 catches for 1,139 yards helped him earn first-team All-Big 12 honors in 2023.

It should come as no surprise that Baker has been overlooked this draft cycle. At 6-foot-1, 202 pounds, Baker doesn't have elite size, speed, or athleticism as compared to his position-mates. Instead, he offers a well-rounded skill set that should allow him to contribute early in his NFL career.

He reminds me of underrated receivers like Kendrick Bourne or Josh Palmer. Baker is a rock-solid route-runner, has reliable hands, and doubles as an excellent run blocker. He would be an asset to any NFL offense.

Round 4, 114th Overall, NY Jets: Leonard Taylor III, DT, Miami

The Jets aren't going to go this entire draft without addressing their defensive line in some way — that's just now how Robert Saleh conducts business. On top of that, defensive tackle is an under-the-radar need for the team entering the offseason.

One player who I'd love to see Saleh get his hands on is Miami's Leonard Taylor III. A former five-star recruit, Taylor was one of the most highly-touted prospects coming out of high school, and while he often showed flashes of his potential in college, he never quite lived up to his potential.

Taylor has all the physical tools needed to be a standout interior pass rusher at the next level, but his inconsistency at Miami will prevent him from being a top pick. His overall pass-rush skill set remains unrefined.

His upside is intriguing, however, and given Saleh's track record of developing defensive linemen, Taylor could maximize his potential in this Jets defense.

Round 6, 187th Overall, NY Jets: Tyler Owens, S, Texas Tech

When you get to the latter stages of the draft, teams are often searching for players who can fill defined roles on special teams. Tyler Owens is the perfect player for that role.

Owens is an athletic freak, standing at 6-foot-2, 216 pounds. He has the build of an undersized linebacker, hits like Quincy Williams, and is one of the best athletes in this class.

Owens came one inch short of setting the world broad jump record at the NFL Combine this past week before tweaking his groin during the 40-yard dash. That athleticism allowed him to shine on special teams in college.

The downside with Owens is that he remains inexperienced and unpolished as an every-down safety, but he should be an immediate special-teams ace with the upside to develop into a contributor on defense in the mold of someone like Ashtyn Davis.

Round 7, 253rd Overall, NY Jets: Kedon Slovis, QB, BYU

The Jets are currently projected to have three of the final five picks in this year's draft thanks to a trio of compensatory selections. We decided to use the first of those three picks on a developmental QB prospect.

Yes, it's another BYU quarterback. As the Jets prepare to say goodbye to Zach Wilson this offseason, perhaps the team could consider adding another BYU QB to replace him in Kedon Slovis.

Slovis is a former USC standout who recorded the fastest 40-yard dash time of any quarterback at the Combine. He has good size and athleticism, although his arm strength and deep accuracy are lacking for the NFL level. Slovis would ideally compete for the third-string QB job in New York.

Round 7, 254th Overall, NY Jets: Isaac Rex, TE, BYU

With the very next pick, we decided to reunite Slovis with his college tight end, Isaac Rex. Rex spent five years at BYU, and while he never topped 450 yards in a season, he was an ever-reliable part of the Cougars' offense.

At 6-foot-6, 247 pounds, Rex is a physical player, both as a receiver and blocker. Rex doesn't have standout physical traits, and his injury history is notable, but he can at least compete for a back-end roster spot with 2023 seventh-round pick Zack Kuntz.

Round 7, 257th Overall, NY Jets: Cedric Johnson, EDGE, Mississippi

It wouldn't be a Jets draft without a pass rusher. With the final pick in the 2024 NFL Draft, the Jets selected Mississippi edge rusher Cedric Johnson as this year's Mr. Irrelevant.

Johnson is an exceptional athlete, registering an outstanding 9.67 RAS (Relative Athletic Score) that ranked 55th among all 1,637 defensive end prospects since 1987.

The 21-year-old Alabama native fits the profile of a standout edge rusher with good size and excellent burst, although his tape and production never matched his potential. I'd love to see if he could develop in a Robert Saleh defense that could maximize his physical traits.