The 2025 NFL Draft is approaching and the New York Jets have the seventh pick. This is a breakdown of their team needs and potential players that they could select in the Draft.
State of the Union
The past two seasons have been a complete disaster for the Jets organization. In fact, it has been a disastrous past 14 seasons since the Jets last played in a postseason game. If you really want to dig into it, it has been a rough 56 years for Jets fans since Joe Namath sold the organization’s soul to “guarantee” the Jets would win Super Bowl III. However, focusing on more recent history, the fact is that the Jets went “all in” and failed epically. They had some really exciting young offensive weapons. They had one of the best defenses in the league. They then decided to add a Hall of Fame quarterback who had won two of the past three NFL MVPs to that team in an attempt to win the Super Bowl.
In some ways, you have to respect what the organization tried to do. They thought they were a quarterback away from being a Super Bowl contender so they went out and made a pitch to one of the best to ever play the position — convincing him to lay down the Ayahuasca and make one more run at another championship. The opening night of Rodgers’ Jets career ended in unmitigated disaster, as he tore his Achilles four plays in. However, that season went on to confirm what the Jets organization and fanbase already thought, they were just a quarterback away. Zach Wilson was so horrific that he got benched for the likes of Trevor Siemian and Tim Boyle. Despite that, the Jets went 7-10 and had the best defense in the NFL by many metrics. Again, reasserting that if Aaron Rodgers came back healthy, this would be a Super Bowl contender.
The Jets entered the 2024 season with very high expectations. Rodgers appeared to be very healthy and the Jets returned most of their roster from the prior season. However, things fell apart fast. Rodgers wasn’t playing up to his old standard and the Jets’ defense completely fell off a cliff. That led to the firing of head coach Robert Saleh, GM Joe Douglas and many other staff members. The Jets ended the season right back where they were when Aaron Rodgers was still in his darkness retreat, completely uncertain of their future. New York has cleaned house and is moving forward with former Lions DC Aaron Glenn as their new head coach. While Glenn is very well respected and the hire has been widely praised around the league, there is still a massive cloud of uncertainty around the franchise.
Potential Departures
D.J. Reed – D.J. Reed and Sauce Gardner formed the most formidable cornerback duo in the NFL for the first two seasons of Gardner’s career. However, along with the rest of the Jets’ defense, the duo regressed mightily during the 2024 season. Reed is 28-years-old and could have just one big contract left in his career. That is unlikely to be with the New York Jets, as Reed looks for a new home and the Jets look to start fresh with their new front office. The Jets are potentially losing a couple of other depth pieces in the secondary in Ashytn Davis and Brandin Echols, so they need to make some additions to fill those gaps.
Aaron Rodgers – The Aaron Rodgers era in New York is over. There was some initial speculation that Rodgers would return to the organization to give it one more shot, but the new administration was reportedly not willing to give Rodgers the free reign that he had under Saleh and Douglas. Due to their disagreement on the way Rodgers should conduct himself, the team has told Rodgers that he will not be a part of their plans heading into the 2025 season. The Jets currently have Tyrod Taylor and 2024 NFL Draft pick Jordan Travis on their roster, but they could also make a move for a new quarterback.
Haason Reddick – The Haason Reddick era was arguably a bigger disaster than the Aaron Rodgers era. Reddick was supposed to be that next-level difference-maker for the Jets last season. However, Reddick held out for a big chunk of the season over contract disputes and then failed to produce once he did finally hit the field. The Jets and Reddick are likely to go their separate ways after that disastrous partnership and the Jets will be in search of an elite edge rusher to fill that role.
Tyron Smith and Morgan Moses – The Jets knew they needed to invest in the offensive line to protect Aaron Rodgers so they made the move for these two veteran tackles. Tyron Smith got injured, as many predicted he would, and only started ten games for the Jets. Moses started 14 games at various spots on the offensive line, but also showed his age. The Jets drafted OT Olu Fashanu last year, who is expected to be the future at left tackle. However, they will definitely need to add more depth to the line with these two veterans likely departing this offseason.
Team Needs
Defensive Line – The defensive line is probably the Jets’ top priority. They had some of the best front seven play in the NFL for a couple of seasons but it fell off a cliff in 2024. Quinnen Williams is the big hitter in the middle of that line, but they need to add some elite pass rushers to play alongside Williams, particularly at the EDGE.
Offensive Line – The Jets started the rebuild of their offensive line in last year’s draft, taking Olu Fashanu in the first round. However, they filled the other gaps with old players on short-term contracts. They need to continue to invest in young offensive line talent to protect their quarterback of the future, whoever that may be.
Wide Receiver – Garrett Wilson is one of the most talented young receivers in the league but the Jets need to get him a good complement. They tried to do that last season by trading for Davante Adams. However, Adams is likely to depart this offseason, potentially following Aaron Rodgers if he decides to play another season elsewhere. If the Jets could add another elite receiver alongside Wilson, it would make it a lot more appealing for a quarterback looking to join the team.
Secondary – D.J. Reed is likely to depart, along with some significant depth pieces. The Jets likely won’t use their top pick on a defensive back but they will need to add to their secondary in the draft and in free agency.
Quarterback – With Aaron Rodgers departing, the Jets’ quarterback picture is uncertain. The Jets have Tyrod Taylor on their roster, who has a boatload of NFL experience and is one of the better backup quarterbacks in the league. They could play out this season with Taylor, although he does have a clear ceiling. Behind Taylor is sophomore Jordan Travis. Travis had a great college career at Florida State, but suffered a brutal knee injury at the end of his final season in Tallahassee. Travis spent his entire rookie year rehabbing from that injury and he should be fully healthy heading into 2025. The Jets could give the young man a chance with an experienced backup in Taylor behind him. However, the Jets could also make a move for a quarterback in the Draft and let him compete with Travis and Taylor for the starting job.
Potential Picks
Abdul Carter, EDGE, Penn State – Abdul Carter is arguably the most talented player in the 2025 NFL Draft. Carter is a relentless pass rusher, can defend the run well and is a physical freak. It is looking increasingly unlikely that Carter will make it to the Jets at pick seven, as his stock continues to rise. However, if Carter does drop the Jets, he would be an obvious choice and an absolute home run pick for the new front office.
Mason Graham, DL, Michigan – Mason Graham is more of an interior defensive lineman, but he would be the next choice if the Jets want to draft a defensive lineman if Abdul Carter is off the board. Graham is massive and also very athletic for his size. He is a run-stuffer but can also get after the quarterback. Alongside Quinnen Williams, Graham would thrive with the amount of double-teams Williams takes. They would immediately be one of the best interior defensive line duos in the NFL.
Will Campbell, OT, LSU – If the Jets opt to build up the offensive line rather than the defense, they could have the first choice at which offensive tackle they want. There is debate over Will Campbell from LSU, Josh Simmons from Ohio State and others as the top OL in the Draft. However, there has been buzz about Campbell to the Jets the past few weeks. Campbell is a physical monster but he is athletic enough that he could also potentially slide inside and play guard if needed. Having Campbell and Fashanu as the cornerstones of the Jets’ offensive line for years to come is a very tempting prospect.
Will Johnson, CB, Michigan – The Jets are likely losing D.J. Reed in free agency so they need an elite corner to play opposite Sauce Gardner. Will Johnson is one of the most talented players in his class and is the consensus top cornerback. With a defensive-minded new head coach, the Jets could look to bolster their secondary to get that elite defense level back.
Tyler Warren, TE, Penn State – Tyler Warren is the dark horse pick for the Jets. There was a lot of smoke about the Jets drafting Brock Bowers last year but they opted for Fashanu. The Jets could go with a Penn State player again in the first round this year, but address the tight end position. Tyler Conklin’s contract is up in New York so they do have a hole at tight end. Warren might not be a wide receiver, but he is very athletic and an elite pass-catcher, more in the mold of Travis Kelce among tight end prototypes. Warren could be that key second pass-catcher behind Garrett Wilson that the Jets are looking for. After the record-breaking rookie season that Bowers just had, a front office could be more likely to ignore “positional value” and take the exceptionally talented Tyler Warren in the top ten.
