NY Jets land franchise LT in 7-round 2023 NFL Mock Draft

It's mock draft season! The NY Jets put together arguably the most impressive draft in football a year ago with the additions of players like Sauce Gardner, Garrett Wilson, and Breece Hall.

While matching that haul with significantly less draft capital might be a tough ask, the Jets still have the picks to do some serious damage in the 2023 NFL Draft. This is a crucial draft for the organization as well.

If general manager Joe Douglas and company don't play their cards right, this could be their final draft with the Jets. That's why nailing this draft class is so important for Douglas and the entire regime.

We utilized Pro Football Focus' mock simulator to run through one possible scenario in this seven-round 2023 NFL Mock Draft. Here are our results.

Round 1, 13th Overall, NY Jets: Paris Johnson Jr., OT, Ohio State

It's always difficult to gauge what direction a team will take in the draft before free agency starts, but the consensus for the Jets right now is that they will address their offensive line early.

Ohio State's Paris Johnson Jr. is my favorite tackle in this year's class at the moment, and the Jets are very fortunate that he's still available at No. 13 in this scenario. This was an easy pick for me.

Johnson is a former five-star recruit who started at right guard for the Buckeyes in 2021 before shifting over to left tackle in 2022. At 6-foot-6, 310 pounds, Johnson has an excellent blend of size and athleticism with the polish and technique to be a plus-starter from day one.

He may not have quite the ceiling of someone like Georgia's Broderick Jones, but he also possesses a much higher floor. Johnson is going to be a long-term starting left tackle in the NFL, with the potential to become an All-Pro in a few years.

Round 2, 43rd Overall, NY Jets: Rashee Rice, WR, SMU

This year's wide receiver class might not have the same level of top-tier talent as in previous years, but that second tier is stacked. SMU's Rashee Rice is one of the most notable names expected to be targeted early on Day 2.

Rice blends an ideal size/speed combination with outstanding ball skills and positional versatility. At 6-foot-2, 203 pounds, Rice reminds me a ton of CeeDee Lamb or even Chris Godwin. He's just a true alpha out there.

The Jets are expected to move on from Corey Davis this offseason and could do so with Braxton Berrios as well. Wide receiver is an underrated need for the team this offseason, and Rice would certainly solve that issue.

If Rice could clean up some of the concentration drops he struggled with from time to time at SMU, he has superstar potential. If he's there at pick 43, I'm running to the podium.

Round 3, 74th Overall, NY Jets: Jordan Battle, S, Alabama

This is another excellent value pick for the Jets. Aside from quarterback (and maybe the offensive line), there might not be a position of greater need for the Jets this offseason than safety.

Many expected Alabama's Jordan Battle to enter the NFL last year, but he surprisingly returned for his senior season. With more than 50 games of experience in Alabama's defense under his belt, Battle is widely considered to be a rock-solid Day 2 pick in this year's draft.

Battle is a physical, high-IQ player who projects best as a strong safety in the NFL. He has good size and length that he combines with fluid hip movement and athleticism. Honestly, he reminds me a lot of a younger, bigger Jordan Whitehead.

Battle makes a lot more sense for the Jets if they move on from Whitehead this offseason as they would fill similar roles. If that is the case, Battle might be my favorite replacement for Whitehead.

Round 4, 112th Overall, NY Jets: Zacch Pickens, iDL, South Carolina

Another underrated need for the Jets this offseason is defensive tackle. Sheldon Rankins, Solomon Thomas, and Nathan Shepherd are all free agents, leaving the Jets very thin at the position.

South Carolina's Zacch Pickens has the high-upside physical traits that warrant consideration early on Day 3. At 6-foot-4, 305 pounds, Pickens is an excellent athlete who was one of the highest-ranked recruits coming out of high school.

His production never quite matched his natural gifts at South Carolina, but he's someone I'd love to see in Robert Saleh's defense. Saleh's attacking 4-3 scheme could maximize Pickens' size and athleticism, giving the Jets an early-down rotational piece with three-down starter upside.

Pickens is probably a better run defender than a pass rusher right now, but if he could continue to develop his pass-rush arsenal, there is three-down potential here. His size and athleticism give him an excellent foundation to build upon.

Round 5, 145 Overall, NY Jets: Henry To'oTo'o, LB, Alabama

If Jordan Battle wasn't the leader of that Alabama defense, it's because Henry To'oTo'o was. A former Tennessee recruit, To'oTo'o completed a decorated college career with multiple All-SEC honors as a cornerstone of the Crimson Tide defense.

To'oTo'o is built like a modern-day NFL MIKE linebacker at 6-foot-2, 228 pounds. He's an ultra-reliable tackler, a high-IQ player in both run defense and pass coverage, and has more than enough lateral mobility.

His big issue right now pertains to getting off blocks and staying true to his gap assignments, but those are correctable deficiencies. I'd expect teams to start targeting To'oTo'o on Day 2, so landing him here in the fifth round is fantastic value.

To'oTo'o is a perfect player to develop as the Jets' MIKE linebacker of the future behind fellow Alabama alumnus, C.J. Mosley. I like Jamien Sherwood, but I think To'oTo'o has more upside to his game as a three-down starter.

Round 6, 179th Overall, NY Jets: Kenny McIntosh, RB, Georgia

Running back isn't exactly a pressing need for the Jets this offseason, but I wouldn't be surprised to see the team target one on Day 3 of the draft, especially if the value is there. That was the case with this pick.

Georgia's Kenny McIntosh is seen by most as a borderline Day 2/Day 3 prospect, so I was a bit surprised to see him still on the board at the top of the sixth round. McIntosh has the physical traits to be a three-down back at the next level.

He was never tasked with being the guy at Georgia, but at 6-foot-1, 210 pounds, McIntosh is an above-average athlete with pass-catching upside. He's still a little rough around the edges, and his lack of experience does show from time to time.

McIntosh needs to become more patient as a runner, and he's clearly not 100 percent comfortable in his role just yet. But with a bit more time and polish, McIntosh can be a really good NFL player. I'm happy taking a swing here in Round 6.

Round 6, 185th Overall, NY Jets: Caleb Chandler, iOL, Louisville

I'm expecting the Jets to address the interior of their offensive line in free agency as they've done in the past with guys like Connor McGovern, Laken Tomlinson, Greg Van Roten, etc. That means targeting a guard early isn't a necessity.

Still, I'd like to see the Jets add some more interior depth to their offensive line, which is why I went with the experienced Caleb Chandler with the team's final pick in the draft.

Chandler is one of the older prospects in this year's class, having been playing at Louisville since 2017. That's helped him set a new program record with 53 career starts, however.

A just 6-foot-3, 297 pounds, Chandler doesn't have ideal size for a guard, and I'd like to see if he could transition to center at the next level. He's a high-floor player who played alongside Mekhi Becton at Louisville.

The Jets add some quality backup offensive line depth on Day 3.

*PFF's mock simulator has the Jets with two sixth-round picks, but in reality, they only have one. This will be corrected in future articles.