The 2024 NFL Draft process is entering a critical phase as the teams bring in their coaching staffs for pre-draft meetings in April. Leading up to this month, the draft meetings have been the scouting staff only, with some head coaches taking part. However in the final weeks, the coaching staffs are present for the draft meetings, and a lot can change when coaches get involved. Sources with the New York Jets told WalterFootball.com that the franchise’s inclination is to take a playmaker with the 10th-overall pick of the 2024 NFL Draft, either in the form of Georgia tight end Brock Bowers or in Washington wide receiver Rome Odunze.
There was a lot of debate about whether the Jets would take an offensive linemen to protect Aaron Rodgers or get him a receiving talent. After adding veteran tackles Tyron Smith and Morgan Moses in free agency, the Jets are more inclined to select a receiver with the 10th pick rather than take a player who would be a backup offensive tackle.
While the Jets signed veteran wide receiver Mike Williams after he was released by the Chargers, Williams is not fully healthy coming off an ACL injury. They could still use more playmakers for Rodgers to go with Williams and Garrett Wilson. Both Bowers and Odunze are viewed as having the potential to contribute immediately. The Jets love Bowers’ mismatch ability, and they feel Odunze is a safe player with very good character to mesh with their veterans. The Jets have LSU’s Malik Nabers and Ohio State’s Marvin Harrison Jr. rated ahead of Odunze, but they like Odunze a lot as well. Right now, it sounds like Bowers and Odunze are the top-two favorites for the team’s first pick of the 2024 NFL Draft.
New York is also very open to trading down if they get a quality offer for the 10th pick. The Jets are without a second-round pick from the Rodgers trade so adding another top-64 pick would be appealing. A lot can change in draft plans with the coaches getting highly involved in this part of the process. At this time according to Jets sources, their inclination is to take a receiving target for Rodgers and I have them going with one of Bowers or Odunze in my my latest 2024 NFL Mock Draft.
