When the Jets make their pick with the seventh overall selection in the draft on April 24, they might face an interesting decision between selecting a standout tight end or a talented tackle who could help fix a major issue on their offensive line.
Does this sound familiar?
Last year, there was a lot of talk about Georgia tight end Brock Bowers and several top-rated tackles before the draft. Sure enough, when the Jets traded down to the 11th pick, Bowers was still available. However, they chose Penn State left tackle Olu Fashanu, who was quickly named the backup to Tyron Smith. Yes, backup.
Bowers, selected by the Las Vegas Raiders just two picks later, had a record-breaking rookie season with 112 catches for 1,194 yards. Fashanu replaced the injured Smith midseason and showed steady progress. While no one is calling Fashanu “generational” like they are Bowers, the pick is still valuable because he plays an important position.
Now, the Jets are in a similar situation with another player from Penn State.
Penn State tight end Tyler Warren and Missouri right tackle Armand Membou are both potential top-10 picks, and both could fill needs for the team. The Jets didn’t re-sign tight end Tyler Conklin (to the Los Angeles Chargers) or right tackle Morgan Moses (to the New England Patriots), and they didn’t make any major moves to replace them. Instead, they added Stone Smartt and Chukwuma Okorafor as inexpensive free agents.
In his most recent mock draft, ESPN’s senior draft analyst Mel Kiper Jr. has Warren going to the Jets.
“I went with Warren because they passed on Bowers last year, and I thought with Justin Fields, that would be somebody who could really create a nightmare for defensive coordinators,” Kiper said. “I thought maybe you could find a right tackle a little later.
“Membou, he’s tempting. I tell you, he’s very tempting because he’s a plug-and-play guy, just like Warren. You can’t take both. You have to pick one. There’s a good chance both will still be available at seven. … Membou or Warren, take your pick. I don’t think anyone could argue with either of those players.”
Warren had 104 catches last season for 1,233 yards (11.9 yards per catch), eight touchdowns, and an impressive 6.7 yards after the catch per reception. While he may not be as much of a game-changer as Bowers, he would still be an improvement.
New York Jets players in the 2nd quarterThe Jets’ tight ends averaged a league-low 8.1 yards per catch last season
Warren, standing at 6 feet 6 inches and weighing 256 pounds, is also a reliable blocker, which would be useful for the Jets, who are expected to run the ball more with a dual-threat quarterback like Fields.
Kiper called Warren a “very valuable chess piece.” On the other hand, Membou, who is 6 feet 4 inches and weighs 332 pounds, is a powerful player with 30 career starts. He finished his excellent season with a strong combine showing, including a 4.91-second 40-yard dash. His draft stock is rising, and as Kiper mentioned, “He’s red hot right now.”
You might be asking, “Why choose another offensive lineman?”
Former general manager Joe Douglas heavily invested in the offensive line, using three first-round picks and one second-round pick. However, new coach Aaron Glenn comes from the Detroit Lions, who used strong offensive line play as the key to their turnaround.
There’s no clear starter at right tackle, so Membou, or possibly LSU’s Will Campbell, will be considered. The debate continues: tackle or tight end?
Cornerback covered: Of all the positions the Jets need to fill, the only one that might be more than a one-year solution is cornerback. The $23 million guarantee for Brandon Stephens is effectively a two-year commitment. Fields received a $30 million guarantee, but we know the quarterback salary scale is different from other positions.
In the end, it would be a surprise if the Jets used a high pick on a cornerback. All other positions are still a possibility.
Strange, but true: In the common draft era (since 1967), the Jets have never selected a player with the No. 7 overall pick. They’ve had 26 top-10 picks, but this is the only spot they’ve never chosen from. In fact, it’s the only spot missing in the top 18.
That will change this year… if they keep the pick.
Sauce’s turn? Derek Stingley Jr. of the Houston Texans became the first 2022 first-round pick to get a contract extension—a three-year, $90 million deal that resets the cornerback market. The deal includes $48 million guaranteed at signing and keeps him with the Texans until 2029.
New York Jets players celebrates after his touchdown in the 2nd halfSomewhere, Sauce Gardner is smiling
Gardner, drafted just after Stingley (third and fourth overall) by the Jets, could argue that he deserves to be the next player to get a big deal.
He has earned more accolades than Stingley—2022 NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year, two Pro Bowls, and two All-Pro honors, compared to Stingley’s one Pro Bowl and one All-Pro. From an analytics perspective, Stingley has the edge, as he has performed better than Gardner over the last two seasons based on EPA/target (NFL Next Gen Stats). However, Gardner has played in 48 of 51 games, while Stingley has only played in 37. Durability is important.
In the end, both are exceptional cornerbacks. It’s safe to say Gardner is looking for more than $30 million per year and probably wants to get a deal done before the season starts.
He is scheduled to make $5.3 million in 2025 and about $20 million in 2026 (via the fifth-year option). The Jets might try to delay negotiations since his cap charge won’t increase until 2026, but the cost of keeping Sauce is likely to rise if they wait.
Did you know?
Every team still has its first-round pick, which hasn’t happened this close to the draft since 1993, according to ESPN Research. That year, the Kansas City Chiefs traded a first-round pick for Joe Montana just five days before the draft. This year, no team has traded its first-round pick.
In case you’re wondering, the last time the Jets didn’t make a first-round pick was in 2005. On draft day, they traded out of the first round for a deal that brought in veteran tight end Doug Jolley.
It’ll be interesting to see how the team handles Quincy Williams’ contract situation.
The linebacker is entering the final year of a three-year, $18 million deal, which he has outperformed. He was named first-team All-Pro in 2023 and followed that up with another strong season. His $6 million average per year ranks 37th among off-ball linebackers, according to Over The Cap.
The Jets recently gave linebacker Jamien Sherwood a three-year, $45 million contract right before free agency, so it’s natural for Williams to ask, “What about me?” The previous management was open to extending him before the 2025 season, but it’s unclear if the new regime feels the same way.
New York Jets players in the training campThe Jets will begin their offseason program on April 7. By rule, teams with new coaches are allowed to start two weeks earlier than the rest.
Aaron Rodgers is the only major free agent from the 2024 Jets still searching for a new team. All signs point to the Pittsburgh Steelers, as he spent six hours with them at their facility on Friday. It’s worth mentioning that the Steelers are on the Jets’ home schedule, so a Rodgers return to MetLife Stadium is a real possibility.
You never know who’s watching: Wide receiver Tyler Johnson, who played for the Los Angeles Rams, started last season with five catches for a career-high 79 yards. He made an impression on the opposing defensive coordinator… Glenn, who signed Johnson as a free agent last week.
Warren wore No. 44 at Penn State because of John Riggins, the Hall of Fame running back. As Warren explained at the scouting combine, “I wear 44 because when I was younger my dad put on John Riggins film and said, ‘This is how I want you to run the ball.'”
Few will remember that Riggins played for the Jets for five seasons before going to Washington.
