2023 NFL Draft Recap: New York Jets

The 2023 NFL Draft has concluded after months of scrutiny about these prospects, potential landing spots, team and scheme fits, and so on. Now we get to start the entire process all over again now that we have team landing spots for these college prospects with their new NFL teams.

Today, we tackle the New York Jets and how they fared in the 2023 NFL Draft.

New York Jets' 2023 NFL Draft Selections:

  • Round 1, Pick 15 - Will McDonald, EDGE, Iowa St.
  • Round 2, Pick 43 - Joe Tippmann, C, Wisconsin
  • Round 4, Pick 120 - Carter Warren, OT, Pittsburgh
  • Round 5, Pick 143 - Israel Abanikanda, RB, Pittsburgh
  • Round 6, Pick 184 - Zaire Barnes, LB, Penn St.
  • Round 6, Pick 204 - Jarrick Bernard-Converse, WR, LSU
  • Round 7, Pick 220 - Zack Kuntz, TE, Old Dominion

The 2023 Fantasy Football Impact:

First and foremost, the start of this recap has to begin with the acquisition of Aaron Rodgers from Green Bay. The Jets have finally got a quarterback to lead this team back to the promised land, and future Hall of Famer at that. Here’s the trade breakdown:

Jets get:

  • Aaron Rodgers, pick No. 15, a 2023 5th-rd pick (No. 170).

Packers get:

  • Pick No. 13, a 2023 2nd-rd pick (No. 42), a 6th-rd pick (No. 207), a conditional 2024 2nd-rd pick that becomes a 1st if Rodgers plays 65 percent of the plays.

Rodgers makes everyone on this roster better immediately, especially Garrett Wilson. Now onto the draft picks. In IDP leagues, Will McDonald IV will be someone to monitor to see how the Jets plan on using the talented pass rusher. In four straight seasons at Iowa State McDonald had at least five sacks, and in three straight seasons he had at least 35 total tackles. Linebacker Zaire Barnes racked up 95 total tackles in his senior season, which should get the interest of deeper IDP dynasty managers.

Now, it’s time to talk about the crown jewel that the Jets drafted in April, and that is Israel Abanikanda. If Abanikanda had landed in a clearer spot, his draft stock would have risen to a first-round pick. By getting selected by the Jets, dynasty managers must temper their expectations for him due to Breece Hall and Michael Carter already in town. Pittsburgh unleashed Abanikanda on the ACC and the rest of the nation in 2022. He rumbled for 1,437 yards rushing on 236 attempts and crossed the goal line 20 times in his senior campaign. Although he is in a tough spot, Abanikanda may get some extra playing time early in the season as Hall recovers from his torn ACL. If you want to roster Abanikanda, you will have to pull the trigger in the mid-to-late second round.

The Jets also drafted Zack Kuntz, an athletic developmental tight end that measures in at 6-foot-7 and 255 lbs. After not seeing much playing time at Penn State, Kuntz transferred to Old Dominion, and in his two seasons with the Monarchs he played in a total of 18 games and brought in 85 receptions for 836 yards and seven touchdowns. Kuntz is an option for dynasty managers in deep tight end premium leagues and could be drafted late in your rookie drafts or possibly off the waiver wire.

Undrafted Free Agents of Note

  • Jason Brownlee, WR, Southern Miss: Brownlee is known for making jaw-dropping catches and compiled 135 receptions for 2,144 yards and 21 touchdowns in three seasons with the Golden Eagles. Could be a nice sleeper late in your rookie drafts.
  • Travis Dye, RB, USC: During his collegiate career between Oregon and USC, Dye was a force on the ground and in the receiving game. Dye racked up 666 rushing attempts for 3,995 yards rushing, 104 receptions for 1,071 yards receiving, and a total of 38 touchdowns. The running back also averaged 19.1 yards on kickoff returns. Dye is buried down the depth chart but should be considered a sleeper to add in late in your rookie drafts to see what unfolds during training camp.
  • Xavier Gipson, WR, Stephen F. Austin: Gipson measures in at 5-foot-9 and 189 lbs., but is capable of making big plays on the field and has comparisons to John Brown. In his last two seasons, he totaled 139 receptions, 2,530 yards, and 21 touchdowns. He even had four return scores. Another sleeper to add in deeper dynasty leagues.

 

Follow Leo Grandio on Twitter @smooth1074!

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