NY Jets trade down and address OL in 7-round 2023 NFL Mock Draft

We are a month out from the draft, and the NY Jets acquired some more draft capital in the Elijah Moore trade last week, so it is a perfect time to do a new mock draft.

Using Pro Football Focus’s mock draft simulator, let’s take a look at what a successful Jets draft could look like post-Aaron Rodgers trade.

NY Jets acquire Aaron Rodgers in a trade from the Green Bay Packers

Before we start, this is a prediction for what the Aaron Rodgers trade will wind up being. The Jets currently hold picks 42 and 43 in the draft. I do not think that the 13th pick or both of those second-round picks will be sent to Green Bay.

It is more realistic that a player like Corey Davis is sent with one of those two second-round picks and a second-round pick next year that could become a first-round pick if a number of conditions are met.

NY Jets trade down with the Los Angeles Chargers

To recoup even more of that draft capital lost in the Rodgers trade, the Jets trade back from pick 13 with the Chargers for pick 21, a second-round pick, and a third-round pick.

The Jets are in a tricky spot where they have some pretty big holes at spots and, to this point in free agency, have not filled them, so extra draft picks would be nice.

Round 1, 21 Overall, NY Jets: Darnell Wright, OT, Tennessee

If the Jets do stay and pick at 13, in all likelihood, it will be an offensive tackle, and even though they traded back, they still go with an offensive tackle here with Darnell Wright.

This pick could have been a center, which is a big need, but there are a couple of centers that will likely go around the Jets' next pick, so that can wait.

The Jets' current offensive tackles, Duane Brown, Mekhi Becton, and Max Mitchell, are all coming off injuries, and after Robert Saleh’s press conference at the NFL meetings, it sounds like they want to keep Alijah Vera-Tucker at right guard. The point is the Jets need some assurance at offensive tackle.

Wright is an interesting prospect with varying opinions on where he will end up going, but one interesting name is pretty high on him. NFL Network’s Daniel Jeremiah has Wright as his second-ranked offensive tackle and 17th overall player.

Jeremiah and Joe Douglas worked together with the Baltimore Ravens, and the Jets drafted three of Jeremiah’s top-10 players and four of his top-30 players last year. Of course, the Jets had a lot of picks last year, so it’s not that eye-opening, but maybe there is something there.

Wright is a big offensive tackle at 6-foot-5 and 333 pounds. Per Pro Football Focus, Wright had his best season in college this past year, not allowing a sack in almost 900 snaps at right tackle after struggling at left tackle in 2021.

This would leave the Jets with two options at each tackle position: Brown and Becton at left tackle and Wright and Mitchell at right tackle.

Round 2, 42 Overall, NY Jets: John Michael Schmitz, C, Minnesota

The Jets finally get their center with John Michael Schmitz at this spot. Whether the Jets sign Ben Jones or not, Schmitz would be a smart pick.

Schmitz is an older prospect at 24 years old, but he has the potential to be the Jets' long-term answer at center. He has great size for a center at 6-foot-3, 301 pounds, and per PFF, over his last three seasons at Minnesota, Schmitz allowed just two sacks in over 2,000 snaps.

If the Jets do not sign Jones, Schmitz, or one of the other centers in this spot becomes a necessity, as it’s almost April and the Jets do not have a starting center on the roster yet.

Round 2, 54 Overall, NY Jets: Sydney Brown, S, Illinois

The Jets added Chuck Clark, and so far they still have Jordan Whitehead, but either way, they could still use another safety. Sydney Brown would be a good option to take a chance on in this spot.

Brown is a very experienced college player, having played five seasons at Illinois and had six interceptions this past season. He also had a great Combine performance with a 4.47 40-yard dash, a 40.5-inch vertical jump, and a 10-foot-10-inch broad jump.

An athlete like Brown would bring an interesting element to the Jets' safety room.

Round 3, 85 Overall, NY Jets: DeMarvion Overshown, LB, Texas

The Jets brought back Quincy Williams, but so far, they have not brought back Kwon Alexander, so another linebacker is a need. 

DeMarvion Overshown is another fifth-year player who could make sense to fill that spot. Overshown was a safety who converted to linebacker and had an impressive final season at Texas. In 12 games, he racked up almost 100 total tackles, 10 tackles for loss, and 4.0 sacks.

Round 4, 112 Overall, NY Jets: Moro Ojomo, DL, Texas

The last big position of need for the Jets is defensive tackle. The Jets lost Nathan Shepherd and Sheldon Rankins but did bring back Solomon Thomas. Joe Douglas confirmed at the NFL meetings that Calais Campbell is coming in for a visit, but even if they sign him, they will still need more depth at the position.

Moro Ojomo is an interesting player who could be an option. Ojomo graded out incredibly well this past season, per PFF. Ojomo earned a 91.4 run defense grade, a 17.8% pass rush win rate, and an overall 90.6 overall grade.

Those grades, along with 19 defensive stops and 26 total pressures, would be worthy of a selection here to be a part of the Jets' defensive line rotation this season.

Round 5, 143 Overall, NY Jets: Keondre Coburn, DL, Texas

Another defensive tackle, and yes, another Texas player. To be fair, Joe Douglas once drafted two players with the same name, so anything is possible.

Keondre Coburn could be another addition to the Jets' defensive line rotation. Barring a Campbell addition, Coburn is a lot bigger than the Jets' other defensive tackles at 6-foot-2 and 332 pounds. He is also another fifth-year player who should be ready to come in and play right away if needed.

Per PFF, Coburn had a very impressive pass-rush win rate of 15.4 percent. He tallied 31 total pressures in 413 defensive snaps.