Grading the Jets’ 2024 draft class: New York blows chance to further Super Bowl contention

Olu Fashanu, OT Penn State

The question as to what was going to be more important when the Jets were on the clock between a Rodgers shield, or a Rodgers sword was answered when the Jets took Fashanu. I personally would have leaned towards the weapon instead of the lineman, but I understand the thinking.

That being said, Fashanu was not the right choice. Fashanu has only played left tackle in his career which means he will likely only play left tackle in the NFL. The Jets don’t have an injury problem at left tackle. They have an injury problem all along their offensive line.

So, Fashanu is a backup to one player and one player only, Tyron Smith. Will Fashanu have to step in at some point this season to play left tackle? Sure. But if Morgan Moses or Alijah Vera-Tucker go down, Fashanu will remain on the bench.

But why can’t he just switch sides and play right tackle if needed?! Simply put, he has never done it and it isn’t easy to do. The great Fox NFL analyst Mark Schlereth once told me about offensive linemen switching sides, “try wiping your ass with your other hand. You will get it done, but you are going to wind up with shit on your hand.”

If the Jets were determined to go offensive line, then why not take a more versatile player like Taliese Fuaga or Troy Fautanu? Both guys would have been able to step in at almost any position along the offensive front.

But he is the left tackle of the future! True (hopefully). But here is where that becomes a problem: the Jets shouldn’t care about the future at all. They should be solely focused on winning now. This season. Aaron Rodgers has got a year or two left in him if they are lucky, and there isn’t a replacement waiting in the wings (more on that later). After 13 years of missing the playoffs and “building for the future” it is time to go all-in on this season. It was clear the Jets have no idea how to do that. Fashanu was a pick for the future, not the present.

Grade: C+

Rd. 3 Pick 65

Malachi Corley, WR Western Kentucky

The Jets wanted Corley bad. They tried to move up into the second round to get him, and finally got him with the top pick in third round.

Corley is a fun player and a guy who can be absolutely dangerous with the ball in his hands. What he isn’t, is a traditional receiver. That is part of his draw. He runs angry and is the “YAC-Gawd”. He often draws comparisons to Deebo Samuel of the San Francisco 49ers.

He is an offensive weapon when the offense is creative and creates mismatches all over the field.

You know what Nathaniel Hackett’s offense isn’t? Any of that.

I don’t hate this player at all, but I do hate him being wasted on an offense that is going to try and turn him into a traditional receiver. The Jets offense will hamper Corley from reaching his full potential. They would have been better off grabbing a straight route-runner who will be where Rodgers wants him to when he wants him to. This feels a lot like Joe Douglas not knowing his team and trying to fit a square peg (as talented as I think he is) in a round hole.

Grade: C+

Round 4, Pick 134 / Round 5, Pick 173

Braelon Allen, RB Wisconsin / Isaiah Davis, RB South Dakota State

I group these two together, because they play the same position. A position that the Jets already have a bonafide, A1 starter and invested in a backup in last year’s draft. Could they use another back in the room? Sure. Two? No.

Allen isn’t overly creative and doesn’t run with as much nastiness as his size suggests, but he is a bruising back who can be a good addition to the run game for short yardage.

Davis meanwhile is a special teamer at best, but apparently, the Jets offensive staff was pounding the table to take him. So, Joe Douglas gave in and took him despite taking Allen 39 picks prior.

I don’t know if Jets fans know this, but the middle rounds are not throw-away picks. You are supposed to draft and develop talent. The Jets seem to think if it isn’t a first-round pick or a high-priced free agent it isn’t worth their time. That’s why their playoff drought is over a decade instead of cyclical.

Izzy Abanikanda was drafted in the fifth round of the draft last year. Either he is already replaced, or the Jets just wasted two draft picks, or they have some plan to utilize four running backs. The same could be said with Carter Warren. Draft him. Sign a high price free agent to play in front of him. And draft his long-term replacement in the first round. No development needed.

I was shocked when the Jets took the first running back considering their other needs, but I was delirious when they took the second.

Grade: D

Round 5, Pick 171

Jordan Travis, QB Florida State

The Jets said they were going to draft a quarterback and instead got an under sized running back.

Travis is the poster boy for great college quarterback that will be irrelevant in the NFL. He is under-sized, lacking height and overall build with a below average arm. He struggles to make drive throws when foot space is limited which is always the case in the NFL. He panics and runs out of the pocket, relying on his athleticism to save him from his mediocrity at playing quarterback.

He is a tough kid, but he has very little anticipation and patience with his progression reads. He also is a turnover waiting to happen as he fumbled 23 times over the last five seasons.

The Jets had numerous opportunities in the draft to select Spencer Rattler but were insistent on passing on him as they opted to keep trading back in the fourth-round before selecting Travis in the fifth. Travis will not get developed as the heir apparent for Aaron Rodgers as he lacks the immediate skills necessary, and the Jets lack the ability to develop a photograph let alone a quarterback.

Grade: D

Round 5, Pick 176

Qwan’tez Stiggers, CB Toronto Argonauts

Stiggers is a lotto ticket. Having never played college football, he is very raw when it comes to being a professional defensive back, but he has all the size and athleticism you want in an NFL corner.

Stiggers’ path to seeing the field will depend on how much he can pick up and learn in the offseason program and training camp. The Jets will need to be patient with him as he tries to make a bigger jump than most to the NFL. If there was one place where he could learn and develop, it is with the Jets.

Grade: B+

Round 7, Pick 257

Jaylen Key, Safety, Alabama

Key is a one year starter for the Crimson Tide and he has the athleticism and speed that made him an SEC defender, but he lacks coverage and ball skills to make an impact on a loaded Jets defense. He is much more likely a special teamer.

Grade: C

Joe Douglas has a lot of attributes that make him a great GM in the league, but this whole draft was a head scratcher when you consider the needs of the team versus the players he selected.  It felt like he was building for a future that he might not get a chance to be a part of if he doesn't nail the present. 

He constantly made moves that felt like he had no handle on what his team is or how it is built.  A back-up offensive lineman in the first round, a gadget player with an OC that has zero creativity, two running backs when you already have a star and a developmental project at the position, and developmental quarterback that you have no business trying to develop.

Overall Grade: D+