Jets Would Be Foolish To Draft A Quarterback In The First Round
Updated: Sep 5, 2023
As we all know the New York Jets have been in pursuit of a veteran quarterback for the entirety of the 2023 NFL offseason. They met with Derek Carr in New Jersey before the free-agent quarterback ultimately signed a four-year deal with the Saints on March 6th. The next day Woody Johnson and Co. scheduled a trip to California in order to meet with Aaron Rodgers to discuss his future plans.
It wasn’t until March 15th when Rodgers appeared on the Pat McAfee Show, out of the darkness, to announce that he “intends to play and to play for the New York Jets.” Ever since then, we have been on the edge of our seats waiting for a resolution to be made between New York and Green Bay.
As of this moment, no deal has officially been made since both sides are having trouble agreeing on the trade compensation. As the NFL Draft gets closer, whether or not Rodgers is on New York’s roster, the Jets are going to have to make some decisions regarding which direction they intend to go with each of their draft picks. On ESPN’s Get Up, former Jets GM Mike Tannenbaum mentioned that he thinks the team should draft a quarterback with the 13th overall pick.
.@Espngreeny absolutely LOST IT thinking about the Jets taking another QB besides Aaron Rodgers 😂 "This is the worst idea I have ever heard in my life!" pic.twitter.com/doHMk1a55p — Get Up (@GetUpESPN) April 4, 2023
The Plan For Pick No. 13
As of April 7th, ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler reports that a deal between the Packers and Jets could be completed closer to the draft, or even on day one. He also mentions that New York is preparing for the draft with the 13th overall pick in mind, therefore it is not likely to be included in the trade. If that’s the case, then Gang Green’s first-round selection should be used on improving the offensive line.
With OT Duane Brown turning 38 before the season begins, OT Mekhi Becton batting the injury bug the last two years, and center Connor McGovern possibly not returning, the Jets could use the help up front. We may see the Jets address the center position any day now either by re-signing Connor McGovern or by signing former Titans center Ben Jones, who according to Brian Costello of the New York Post, the team has shown interest in.
The Jets are in a great position to draft an offensive tackle with pick number thirteen. The second this organization officially acquires Aaron Rodgers from the Packers, they instantly become a win-now team. Adding a tackle in the first round makes the statement that you are prepared to protect your 39-year-old quarterback for what hopes to be a lengthy season.
On the contrary, drafting a new signal-caller with the 13th pick is not the message that you want to send to your newly acquired Hall of Fame quarterback. We saw how things unraveled in Green Bay when the Packers drafted Jordan Love too soon for Rodgers’ liking.
Yes, this situation is not exactly the same since we do not know how long Rodgers’ Jets tenure will last, but with such a small window for success, worrying about the future of this team does not seem like an issue that needs to be addressed in the first round of this year’s draft.
Long-Term Answer
Even after acquiring Aaron Rodgers from the Packers, the Jets should remain active in their search for a long-term answer at quarterback. There’s no telling how long Aaron Rodgers will be on the Jets roster.
He could be a “one-and-done” after this season and head toward retirement or he can stay for a couple of years in pursuit of becoming a Super Bowl champion once again. While Aaron Rodgers can provide the Jets with the possibility of immediate success, the pressure is still on for this organization to achieve some sustained success.
Regardless of either outcome, New York should not be hesitant on using a mid-to-late-round pick on a quarterback in this year’s draft or even the ones to follow. Players like Russell Wilson, Kurt Warner, and even Tom Brady have made a name for themselves despite not being coveted as highly ranked draft picks.
Although the Jets have swung and presumably missed on their last two first-round quarterbacks, there’s no harm in continuing to take some chances in the hopes that you find a diamond in the rough while you have a guy like Aaron Rodgers at the helm.
To stay up-to-date on all things sports, be sure to check out Stadium Rant and follow us on Twitter @StadiumRantHQ!