We’re in the thick of draft season, and although we’re less than two weeks away from the start of the 2024 NFL Draft, it’s impossible to predict exactly who the NY Jets will target in the first round.
In fact, the Jets probably don’t know their exact draft board order yet. The team has been connected to a wide array of prospects over the last few months, to the point where many of the top names have been repeated ad nauseam.
Players like Joe Alt, Olu Fashanu, Taliese Fuaga, Rome Odunze, and Brock Bowers have all been repeatedly projected as future Jets in mock drafts, but what if the Jets go in a surprise direction?
After all, no one predicted the Jets would select Will McDonald in the first round last year. Here are five under-the-radar first-round targets for the Jets who haven’t gotten as much publicity.
5. The NY Jets could draft Oregon WR Troy Franklin
In such a loaded wide receiver class, some names are bound to be overlooked. One such player could be Oregon’s Troy Franklin, who many project to be an early Day 2 pick in this year’s draft.
Franklin was an ultra-productive player at Oregon, setting numerous school records with his 2023 season that saw him finish with 81 catches for 1,383 yards and 14 touchdowns. That helped earn him second-team All-American honors for his third and final collegiate season.
Franklin has a thin frame and struggled with concentration drops in his final season (he had nine drops in 2023), but he’s an explosive playmaker who can make plays before or after the catch.
The Jets are unlikely to take him with the 10th overall pick, but he’s someone they could consider if they trade down to the back half of the first round.
4. The NY Jets could draft Georgia WR Ladd McConkey
Another late Day 1 or early Day 2 wide receiver prospect who could interest the Jets is Georgia’s Ladd McConkey. McConkey’s stock has risen over the last few months, to the point where it wouldn’t be a shock to see him go on Day 1.
At 5-foot-11, 186 pounds, McConkey excels as an electric slot receiver who might be the best pure route runner in his class. He combines his NFL-ready skill set with an impressive athletic profile.
McConkey ran a blazing 4.39 40-yard dash and earned an RAS score of 9.33 at the NFL Combine. He has all the makings of an instant-impact contributor at the NFL level with an extremely high floor.
I’m probably higher on McConkey than most, which is why I wouldn’t have an issue drafting him in the latter half of the first round. It would be surprising if he didn’t have a long and successful NFL career.
3. The NY Jets could draft Alabama OT JC Latham
JC Latham’s name rarely seems to come up when discussing the top offensive tackle prospects in the 2024 NFL Draft, but he has a chance to be taken a lot earlier than many expect.
At 6-foot-6, 342 pounds, Latham is a behemoth of a right tackle prospect who excelled as a two-year starter at Alabama. He was a second-team All-American selection in 2023, helping anchor one of the best offensive lines in college football.
Latham still has his share of inconsistencies and is far from the most technically sound tackle in this class, but he’s an ascending prospect who would thrive in a power-run scheme, similar to the one the Jets are rumored to switch to.
Latham could compete for snaps as a rookie and provide much-needed depth and long-term stability behind Tyron Smith and Morgan Moses. He’s a possible trade-down option, but he’s also in play at No. 10.
2. The NY Jets could draft LSU WR Brian Thomas Jr.
There’s a consensus big three wide receiver trio in this year’s draft class with Marvin Harrison Jr., Malik Nabers, and Rome Odunze all expected to be top-10 selections. LSU’s Brian Thomas Jr. has a very real claim to be WR4 in this draft class.
Thomas starred alongside Nabers in LSU’s high-powered offense, finishing with 68 catches for 1,177 yards and 17 touchdowns as a junior. He led the FBS in receiving touchdowns and earned third-team All-American honors in the process.
Thomas is a downfield burner with 4.33 speed and elite ball tracking ability to be a dominant field stretcher at the next level. His route tree is still developing, but Thomas was one of the most dynamic playmakers in college football on vertical and crossing routes.
If the Jets aren’t able to land one of the top-three wide receiver prospects, Thomas might just be the next-highest player on their board. He’s very much a possible target at 10 or in a trade-down.
1. The NY Jets could draft Washington OL Troy Fautanu
Troy Fautanu might just be the most overlooked offensive line prospect in this year’s draft class. A two-year starter at Washington, Fautanu anchored the left side of the Huskies’ offensive line, primarily starting at left tackle.
At 6-foot-3, 317 pounds, some believe Fautanu is better suited as a guard in the NFL due to his lack of ideal height or length. However, his tape alone proves he can play left tackle at the next level.
Fautanu is a nasty finisher, an excellent athlete, and a refined pass blocker, giving him Pro Bowl upside and day-one starter traits. He’s someone who could immediately compete for refs at left guard with the Jets while also doubling as a long-term left tackle option.
While guys like Olu Fashanu and Taliese Fuaga have received more hype, Fautanu has a chance to be better than both of them. If the Jets feel comfortable projecting him as a tackle in the NFL, they should have no issues taking him at 10.
