Sports Illustrated Slots Jets Higher Than Six AFC Teams in NFL Draft Rankings

SI scribe Matthew Verderame assessed Gang Green's standing amongst the 16-team conference

Ranking teams' draft performances comes with a great deal of difficulty. 

Presumably, no one knows what the future truly holds. Evaluators can only go by what they saw from players' college careers and speculate how that will translate at the big league level.

Sports Illustrated's Matthew Verderame gave it the old college try, ranking every AFC teams' haul from the 2023 National Football League Draft.

The New York Jets, who have arguably already won the offseason by acquiring quarterback Aaron Rodgers, fared better than six of their AFC rivals when it comes to last week's draft results.

10. New York Jets

"After trading for Aaron Rodgers just a few days before the draft, general manager Joe Douglas knew he had to upgrade a shaky offensive line. Douglas didn’t land the top-tier tackle he might have wished for, but he did successfully upgrade the front, selecting center Joe Tippmann out of Wisconsin and third-round tackle Carter Warren out of Pittsburgh.

In the first round, Douglas attempted to add some pass rush by selecting Will McDonald IV. McDonald played five years at Iowa State and totaled 34 sacks. The Jets are hoping traits equate to production at the next level. Frankly, it’s a bit of a risky pick but with clear upside."

- Matthew Verderame

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The Jets finished one spot behind the AFC East rival New England Patriots, who were ninth in the conference rankings. The Miami Dolphins came in next-to-last at No. 15. Meanwhile, the Buffalo Bills, the three-time reigning division champs, led all AFC East teams on the list by taking the No. 6 slot.

The AFC rankings are a follow-up to the rapid reaction that Verderame provided after the draft's completion on Saturday night. In "NFL Draft 2023 Grades: Analysis of Every Team’s Picks", Verderame awarded the Jets with a B- mark.

When it comes to the NFL special guests who announced their favorite teams' picks on stage with Commissioner Roger Goodell, no one did it better than the Jets' fan Kyle Stickles. 

The Make-A-Wish recipient became an internet sensation by enthusiastically verbalizing Gang Green's selection of Iowa State edge rusher Will McDonald. The youngster also gave the crowd a patented "J-E-T-S" chant.

.@MakeAWish recipient Kyle Stickles announced the @nyjets’ pick and did not disappoint 🔥

📺: 2023 #NFLDraft on NFLN/ESPN/ABC
📱: Stream on NFL+ https://t.co/D3EqkrKLy4 pic.twitter.com/IDmNZJvfRu

— NFL (@NFL) April 28, 2023

2023 NYJ DRAFT CHOICES

Round 1 (No. 15 overall (from GB)): Will McDonald, EDGE, Iowa State 

Round 2 (No. 43 overall): Joe Tippmann, C, Wisconsin 

Round 4 (No. 120 overall): Carter Warren, OT, Pittsburgh 

Round 5 (No. 143 overall): Israel Abanikanda, RB, Pittsburgh 

Round 6 (No. 184 overall (from NE)): Zaire Barnes, LB, Western Michigan

Round 6 (No. 204 overall (from LV)): Jarrick Bernard-Converse, CB, LSU 

Round 7 (No. 220 overall (from LV)): Zack Kuntz, TE, Old Dominion

RELEVANT LINKS:

Sports Illustrated Grades Jets' 2023 Draft Below Median

Jets Country 2023 Complete Draft Report Card

Make-A-Wish Recipient Chosen to Attend NFL Draft, Announce Jets' First Pick

Jets' Draft Tracker: Meet the Team's Seven Picks

Iowa State 'Cyclone Boys' Ready to Fuel Jets

Jets Country 2023 Offseason Personnel Tracker