Jets Land Massive Offensive Tackle in Sports Illustrated's Day 2 Mock Draft

Picking 12th in the second-round order, Gang Green secures Ohio State bookend in SI writer's projections

The New York Jets may be able to secure an above-average offensive tackle prospect on Day 2 at the 2023 NFL Draft. 

Although the top-four bookends all went off the board in the Top 14 on Thursday night, there are still good names available. 

In the Round 1 aftermath, Sports Illustrated's Luke Easterling concocted a Day 2 mock draft that projects all 71 selections over the second and third rounds. 

The Jets have only one pick on Friday, when Rounds 2 and 3 will unfold in Kansas City, and Easterling has them making good use of it. He mocked Ohio State's other offensive tackle, Dawand Jones, to Gang Green at No. 43 overall. 

With the selection that they received as part of the Aaron Rodgers trade, the Green Bay Packers selected Iowa tight end Sam LaPorta right before the Jets hit the second-round clock. 

43 New York Jets: Dawand Jones, OT, Ohio State

"The Jets got leapfrogged for Broderick Jones in the first round, but here they’re able to land a plug-and-play offensive tackle in Jones, who has a massive frame and eye-popping wingspan."

- Luke Easterling (read full Day 2 mock)

"We're not gonna force anything. We're always going to let the board comes to us," said Jets' general manager Joe Douglas on targeting an offensive lineman in the coming rounds.

The 6-foot-8 Jones earned a first-round grade early on in the pre-draft process, but he became overshadowed by his Buckeye linemate Paris Johnson Jr., who landed with the Arizona Cardinals at No. 6 overall. 

The team that drafts Jones will get a massive human being to feature at offensive tackle. He weighed in at 374 pounds and measured a gigantic wingspan of nearly 88 inches. 

Jones, an All-Big Ten Conference honoree, showed position versatility while totaling 41 career appearances for the Buckeyes. After starting the entire 2021 season at right guard, he kicked out to right tackle and started all 13 games there in 2022. 

READ MORE:

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