Jets Country 2023 Draft Series Video

Tackling the 2023 National Football League Draft prospect pool through a Gang Green-centric position-by-position approach

Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports

The New York Jets have six total selections in the upcoming National Football League Draft highlighted by three top-43 picks.

Although speculation suggests one of the team's two second-rounders could go to the Green Bay Packers in an eventual Aaron Rodgers trade, Gang Green will have the chance to secure a couple of needed "plug-and-play" rookies come April 27 in Kansas City.

Keeping the Jets' specific needs in focus, the Jets Country Draft Series provides position-by-position prospect primers.

Featuring NFL Draft Bible founder Ric Serritella as the analyst, new Jets Country Draft Series breakdowns will be available through the end of April.

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QUARTERBACKS: Identifying Developmental Options  

The 2023 quarterbacks class features some late-round/UDFA options for a team like the Jets. Louisville's Malik Cunningham, Incarnate Word's Lindsey Scott and Houston's Clayton Tune are amongst the names discussed.

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RUNNING BACKS: Running down the RB List  

Gang Green can re-inforce a strong running back position group through NFL Draft and UDFA signings. Some potential Day 3/UDFA options are Monmouth's Owen Wright, TCU's Emari Demercado, Minnesota's Mohamed Ibrahim and Fort Valley State's Emanuel Wilson.

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TIGHT ENDS: Adding Firepower from Deep TE Class  

Jets' TE1 Tyler Conkiln is a keeper, but there is room for an additional receiving threat as a second-stringer. The 2023 tight ends class is widely considered to be the most potent in recent years. In addition to the elite early-round options, Serritella suggested that teams will have the chance to find future starters on Day 3.

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RECEIVERS: Possibilities for an Already-Stacked WR Room  

Despite their receiver depth, the Jets could be tempted to add a premier prospect if a talent like Jaxon Smith-Njigba fell to the No. 13 overall selection. Should Gang Green look elsewhere with its first-round pick, there will be plenty of chances to grab a future contributor as the Draft transpires.

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OFFENSIVE LINE: Potential Pickups for Joe Douglas' Crew

The New York Jets’ offensive line group looked far from elite in 2022. Then, there's the fact that the status of the two projected starting tackles is unknown beyond 2023. Meanwhile, the team still hasn't picked up a full-time center to replace unsigned free agent Connor McGovern. Outside of the top-tier tackles that the Jets may consider at the No. 13 spot in Round 1, the 2023 NFL Draft pool features enough promising prospects across all offensive line positions.

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DEFENSIVE LINE: Good Reason to Include DT in 2023 Plans

None of the New York Jets’ defensive tackles are signed for the long term. Therefore, general manager Joe Douglas and Co. would be prudent to target multiple interior defensive line prospects in 2023. Ric Serritella has identified five interior linemen who have likely caught Douglas’ eye at some point during the pre-draft process.

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LINEBACKERS: Landing LB Reinforcements Likely on List

Outside of reliable veterans CJ Mosley and Quincy Williams, the New York Jets are thin at the linebacker position and they can fix that during the 2023 National Football League Draft. The early second round may be an ideal time to pounce on one of the top linebacker prospects, none of whom earned consensus first-round draft grades. 

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SAFETY: Plugging a Hole in Defensive Backfield

It doesn’t appear Gang Green has interest in bringing Lamarcus Joyner back into the fold, but that creates a void in the safeties’ room. Adding a safety is likely high on management’s draft to-do list. Some prospects for Joe Douglas and Co. to consider are Illinois' Sydney Brown, Texas A&M's Antonio Johnson and Sacramento State's Marte Mapu.

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2023 Jets Country Full Team Mock Draft 2.0

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SI's Matt Verderame Identifies Jets' Draft Needs

Jets Country's 2023 Offseason Personnel Tracker