Mel Kiper 2-Round Mock Draft: Weapons For New York Jets' Aaron Rodgers?

The New York Jets have the No. 10 overall selection in the upcoming NFL Draft and ESPN's Mel Kiper suggests they'll add an offensive weapon for quarterback Aaron Rodgers.

Nov 11, 2023; Athens, Georgia, USA; Georgia Bulldogs tight end Brock Bowers (19) runs after a catch / Brett Davis-USA TODAY Sports

It's turning into the great debate of the New York Jets' offseason and draft guru Mel Kiper appears to have picked a side.

Holding the No. 10 overall selection in the upcoming NFL Draft, the Jets will almost certainly have the chance to add either a plug-and-play offensive tackle or a difference-making skill player in Round 1.

Georgia tight end Brock Bowers (19) drives down the field after pulling in a pass from Georgia / Joshua L. Jones / USA TODAY NETWORK

While New York acquired two highly-capable bookends in longtime Dallas Cowboys' fixture Tyron Smith and Baltimore Ravens' starter Morgan Moses, both men are 33 years old and warrant some type of injury insurance that will likely be available to the Jets at No. 10 overall in the draft order. On the other side, the team's recently-signed WR2 Mike Williams is somewhat of an unknown coming off an ACL tear and the temptation to add another weapon for quarterback Aaron Rodgers is as real as ever in a "win-now" season.

If Kiper's latest two-round mock draft is any indication, the Jets will opt to add firepower in the form of Georgia tight end Brock Bowers.

With Washington receiver Rome Odunze going to the Chicago Bears at No. 9 overall, New York settled for Bowers and passed on offensive linemen JC Latham, Taliese Fuaga and Olu Fashanu while doing so. All three tackles were subsequently selected over the next four picks.

Despite playing in only 10 games this past season, Bowers led the Bulldogs in receptions (56) and receiving yards (714) en-route to a third consecutive All-America selection. Meanwhile, Jets' TE1 Tyler Conklin finished second on the team with 621 receiving yards in 2023, so tight end isn't exactly a position of need for New York.

Kiper Writes:

"This is really the first logical match I see for Bowers, the two-time Mackey Award winner who is head and shoulders above the other tight ends in this class. If the Jets are all-in around quarterback Aaron Rodgers this season, taking Bowers would give them the best chance to make a playoff run. They brought in left tackle Tyron Smith and right tackle Morgan Moses last month, which lessens the need for an immediate starter at tackle. This just makes sense."