New Year Brings New Offensive Tackle Options for Jets

Georgia booked declares for 2024 NFL Draft, adding potential first-rounder to prospect pool

The New Year will bring new opportunities for the New York Jets to fix their offensive line and the draft crop strengthened this past weekend.

The Jets will presumably have at least one new starting tackle when they take the field next season with the most-feasible way of acquiring that player being through the NFL Draft. Whenever the Jets make their first-round pick, which will be anywhere from No. 5 to No. 12 depending on Week 18 results, the latest offensive tackle to declare will likely be available.

Georgia's Amarius Mims, who is listed at 6'7" and 340 pounds (UGA website), has told ESPN that he will forego his remaining college eligibility to enter the 2024 NFL Draft. Prior to 2023, Mims saw most of his game action as a reserve tackle. He took over as a starter late in the 2022 campaign, manning the right side for the Chik Fil A Peach Bowl and the CFB National Championship Game.

Mims suffered an injury in the Southeastern Conference opener against South Carolina on September 16 but returned to make four starts down the stretch for the one-loss Bulldogs. Pro Football Focus has Mims at No. 23 overall on its Big Board while The Draft Network currently ranks the UGA product as the fifth-best offensive tackle prospect available.

Notre Dame's Joe Alt and Penn State's Olu Fashanu enter draft season as the top offensive tackle prospects according to multiple expert opinions. Neither franchise bookend may last past the Top 5 this spring, meaning the Jets could be forced to settle for other options.

Oregon State's Taliese Fuaga and Alabama's J.C. Latham are both potential first-rounders this draft cycle. Both tackles played on the right side this past season.

Mims, a blindside protector, could wind up being a fit with the Jets despite lacking significant starting experience at the collegiate level. He possesses multiple physical similarities to former Georgia tackle Broderick Jones, who landed with the Pittsburgh Steelers at No. 14 overall last April.

The Jets, who were rumored to be seeking a left tackle, missed out on Jones in 2023 by one draft slot. New York brass may be looking to draft a successor for the last first-round tackle that the organization selected in 2020.

Mekhi Becton, a No. 11 overall pick, may not be back for a fifth season as a Jet. The team declined to exercise his fifth-year option prior to the 2023 season, essentially making this season a prove-it campaign for the oft-injured Becton. Despite proving he could stay healthy after missing back-to-back seasons, Becton has endured his share of struggles on the field. He was routinely beaten badly by edge rusher Myles Garrett in last week's 37-20 loss to the Cleveland Browns. The 6-foot-7 Becton has been flagged for a team-high 16 penalties this fall.

The 2024 NFL Draft will kick off on Thursday, April 25 at Ford Field in Detroit.

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