The New York Jets have a young and emerging team that could become a legitimate playoff threat next season.
They already had a defense that ranked fourth in points and total yards allowed, and on offense, they possess wide receiver Garrett Wilson, the reigning Offensive Rookie of the Year.
Of course, the Jets are trying to trade for future Hall-of-Fame quarterback Aaron Rodgers, but trade talks with the Green Bay Packers are moving along at a snail’s pace.
New York will have the No. 13 pick in the upcoming 2023 NFL Draft, and analyst Rich Cimini feels a good target for them would be offensive tackle Paris Johnson Jr. of Ohio State University.
🏈#Jets draft pre: Option at 13
OT Paris Johnson, Jr., 6-6, 313, Ohio St
🔵All-America. 26 starts – 13 LT, 13 RG
🔵14 pressures/449 pass-blocks in ’22. 1 pent
🟡0 sacks in first 11 Gs, then yielded sacks vs Michigan+ Ga
🔵36″ arms
📈Strong intangibles. Projected: 9-15 range— Rich Cimini (@RichCimini) April 19, 2023
As a junior last season, he was a consensus All-American, and he helped take the Buckeyes to the 2021 College Football Playoff National Championship, where they lost to Alabama.
He has played multiple positions on the offensive line — although he started at left tackle last season, he played guard in the 2021 national championship game.
It will be important for the Jets to make sure Rodgers has strong pass protection, assuming they do acquire him, as he is 39 years of age and not quite as mobile as he once was.
He threw for 3,695 yards and 26 touchdowns in 2022 while posting a passer rating of 91.1, and those numbers were down significantly compared to 2021 when he won his second-straight regular season MVP award.
Perhaps a strong QB and a solid offensive line are all New York needs to be a force in the AFC East for the first time since 2010, the last time they reached the AFC Championship Game.
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