Picking the New York Jets best Round 3 draft target ahead of the 2024 NFL Combine
It's pretty obvious what the New York Jets are going to do with the tenth overall pick in the 2024 NFL Draft, but what Joe Douglas, Robert Saleh, and co. do from that point on is anyone's guess. I mean, there are clear needs outside of offensive tackle. Wide receiver, safety, interior offensive line, and […]
It's pretty obvious what the New York Jets are going to do with the tenth overall pick in the 2024 NFL Draft, but what Joe Douglas, Robert Saleh, and co. do from that point on is anyone's guess.
I mean, there are clear needs outside of offensive tackle. Wide receiver, safety, interior offensive line, and defensive tackle are all positions that immediately come to mind.
The Jets do not have a second-round pick in this year’s draft because of the Aaron Rodgers trade last off season. The only silver-lining to the Rodgers injury was that he did not play enough snaps for the Jets to have to relinquish their first-round choice to the Packers this year.
The Jets currently hold the 10th overall pick in the draft and then don’t pick again until the third-round, number 72. That could change between now and then including trading Zach Wilson, which I believe will net them a late third round choice.
There are going to be plenty of routes to take, but considering the players that are likely to be available and New York's pending needs, the following two guys make the most sense, right now.
The New York Jets should draft USC Wide Receiver Brenden Rice with their third-round pick in the 2024 NFL Draft
Brenden is the son of the best wide receiver to ever play the game, Jerry Rice. But that isn’t the reason the Jets should be targeting him. Brenden is a raw, but very talented wide receiver that has a very high ceiling in the NFL.
As AtoZSports own Rob Gregson points out he is not his father and his game is very different. What Brenden Rice lacks in nuance and route running that his dad excelled in, he makes up for with dominant physical traits.
NFL.com’s Lance Zierlein had this to say about Rice’s abilities.
The bloodlines don’t get much better than Jerry Rice, so Brenden Rice might have a head start on the rest of the field. He’s big and plays a physical brand of football when cornerbacks want to fight over space. He lacks sudden feet, so beating press cleanly and separating on short routes could be challenging as a pro. Rice possesses good build-up speed to create deep-ball opportunities once his ball skills are added to the equation. Rice catches with quick, strong hands and good extension to help with frequent contested catches. There are some limitations at play, but he has enough checkmarks to project as an early backup with some upward mobility. – NFL Network Analyst Lance Zierlein
The Jets currently have Garrett Wilson as their only true wide receiver threat on the offense. I imagine they will make a run at guys like Calvin Ridley or Mike Evans this off season, but with their cap situation being what it is, they will not be able to win any kind of bidding war.
Rice has as many of the raw tools you would want in a potential number two target for an offense. Plus, pairing him with a cerebral quarterback like Rodgers might just be the key to unlocking his full potential.
In a stacked wide receiver class, the Jets might be able to sneak Rice on to their team in the third round, but Joe Douglas might have to move up to the end of the second round to snag Rice.
If the Jets decide to go defense?
Woody Johnson said this off season was about “offense, offense, offense” and I believe he meant it. But if you are in the third round and you feel good about where you positioned yourself, it might be time to take the best player on your board, regardless of which side of the ball he lines up on.
Kamren Kinchens was a starting safety in Miami’s base nickel defense. He primarily ranges deep in coverage, but he has rotated down to the slot and into the box making him one of the more versatile safeties in the draft.
Kinchens is a rangy defender on the back-end of the defense. He has the speed, size and range to take on the deep middle in single-high defenses. He is quick to close downhill on a receiver and make a tackle near the catch point.
With the almost the entirety of the Jets safeties set to test free agency this off season, Kinchens could be a relatively inexpensive and adequate alternative to trying to bring in a free agent or two.
In essence, Kinchens is a prime candidate for teams seeking an athletic, aggressive safety who can immediately elevate a defense which the Jets should be happy to do. AtoZSports Destin Adams has Kinchens ranked as the number one safety in the class.
Final Word
While the Jets are without a second-round pick, the draft does not simply end after they make their first round selection. Finding the right players in later rounds are what separate good teams from great ones.
The Jets will focus a lot of their cap space and first-round draft capital on improving an offense that was downright abysmal in 2023, but it is important to also provide reinforcements to a defense that dragged the team to seven wins the last two years. Don’t be surprised if their third round choice goes to the best player available and don’t be surprised if that player plays on the defensive side of the ball..
Picking the New York Jets best Round 1 draft target after the 2024 NFL Combine
Joe Douglas, Robert Saleh and co. went into Indianapolis hoping their pre-combine analysis of a few of the players would be solidified and they could move on with their offseason plan. The players they went to see did not disappoint. They have one priority this off-season, and that is to get Rodgers everything he needs […]
