Draft guru's blockbuster trade pitch lands Jets new weapon for Aaron Rodgers
After signing left tackle Tyron Smith and guard John Simpson in free agency and trading for Baltimore Ravens right tackle Morgan Moses, the offensive line is no longer the New York Jets' top priority heading into the 2024 NFL Draft.
Having built a better line to protect Aaron Rodgers, who’s returning from an Achilles tear, many expect the Jets to use their first-round pick to add another weapon for the veteran quarterback.
In his latest mock draft, NFL Network's Daniel Jeremiah projects the Jets to trade up from No. 10 overall to No. 5 overall with the Los Angeles Chargers to grab Ohio State wide receiver Marvin Harrison Jr.
“The Jets are all-in with a veteran quarterback and they recently acquired two offensive tackles to shore up the O-line,” Jeremiah wrote. “They desperately need another playmaker in the passing game to complement Garrett Wilson, so they trade up to select Harrison, the top receiver in the draft and Wilson’s former Ohio State teammate.”
Of course, Jeremiah’s hypothetical trade predates a few other things happening first.
Many expect USC QB Caleb Williams, North Carolina QB Drake Maye and LSU QB Jayden Daniels to be selected with the first three picks. Jeremiah then has the Minnesota Vikings trading up to the fourth overall pick from the Cardinals to grab Michigan QB J.J. McCarthy, allowing the Jets to swoop in and land Harrison Jr.
Receiver is the Cardinals’ biggest position of need, so for them to trade out of their pick and surrender arguably the best WR prospect in over a decade, the return would have to be too good to say no to. The Vikings would also have to value McCarthy so highly that they believe the only way to get him is to move up to No. 4.
But if the Jets do go big and somehow land the 6-foot-4, 205-pound Harrison Jr., it would be a coup for general manager Joe Douglas.
Harrison Jr. has been regarded as the top receiver in college football for nearly two seasons. He put up a 77-catch, 1,263-yard, 14-touchdown sophomore season in 2022 and followed it with 67 receptions, 1,211 yards and 14 touchdowns this year. Harrison Jr. averaged 16.4 and 18.1 yards per reception over the last two seasons.
As Jeremiah noted, the 21-year-old wideout would perfectly complement Wilson on the opposite side. He would give Rodgers two big-play weapons along with Allen Lazard in the slot, Tyler Conklin at tight end, and Breece Hall catching passes out of the backfield.
Hall was New York’s second-leading receiver in 2023 (95 targets, 76 receptions, 591 yards, four touchdowns) while Conklin ranked third on the team in receiving (87 targets, 61 receptions, 621 yards).
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