As cliché as it sounds, the last day of the National Football League Draft is just as important as the first two.
If you've watched an NFL game in the past two decades, you've probably learned that Tom Brady was a 6th-round pick!
In all seriousness, there is plenty of money to be made after the first three rounds have passed. Whether a core special teamer, a plug-and-play starter or a future Pro Bowler, there are always hidden gems available in Rounds 4 through 7.
In his recent piece for Sports Illustrated, NFL writer Matthew Verderame identified five Day 3 draft choices "who could surprise based on their talent and situation" and New York Jets' offensive tackle Carter Warren made the list.
The 6-foot-5 Warren, a fourth-round pick out of Pittsburgh, joined a group that included Jaguars' safety Antonio Johnson, Ravens' cornerback Kyu Blu Kelly, Bengals' running back Chase Brown and Eagles' cornerback Kelee Ringo.
After trading back eight spots at the start of Round 4, the Jets opted for the offensive tackle insurance that eluded them on Day 1. Gang Green made the New Jersey-born Warren the No. 120 overall selection in the 2023 NFL Draft.
"A tackle in Carter Warren with really good length, really good lateral agility that has huge upside and is a good fit in our scheme," said Jets' general manager Joe Douglas following the third day of the Draft.
At 24 years old, Warren is one of the oldest prospects in the 2023 draft class and his maturity level should help him adjust quickly to professional life. He started all 14 games as Pitt's left tackle in 2021, but his 2022 campaign was marred by meniscus injury that required surgery.
Having traveled the road to recovery, the former New Jersey high school star (Passaic Tech) gives Gang Green a big bookend to reinforce a somewhat fragile group of offensive tackles. Warren owns 35.25-inch arms and a wide-reaching 85-inch wingspan.
From "Day 3 Value Picks Who Could Rise From Anonymity":
4. Carter Warren, OT, Jets
Pick: No. 120
Few players are going to be more scrutinized this year than the tackles for the Jets. After acquiring quarterback Aaron Rodgers, New York must figure out a strategy to protect him. In the draft, general manager Joe Douglas invested a second-round pick in Wisconsin center Joe Tippmann but waited until the fourth round to select a tackle.
The Jets have nothing but questions on the line’s edges. Mekhi Becton’s fifth-year option was correctly declined, Duane Brown is soon to be 37 years old, and Max Mitchell was a fourth-round pick last year who started five NFL games. Enter Warren, who should compete in training camp for a starting job.
Warren is a mountain at 6'5" and 311 pounds, and he served as a team captain for Pittsburgh. At 24 years old, he’s one of the league’s oldest rookies who shouldn’t need as much polish, considering he made 39 starts as a left tackle in college. He also earned All-ACC honors in 2021, giving New York a real option if Brown’s age catches up, Mitchell struggles in camp or Becton sustains another ailment in what has been an injury-riddled career.
- Matthew Verderame
Warren was already sidelined when Douglas made a scouting visit to last year's Pitt-Georgia Tech game, but Gang Green's GM naturally took notice of the injured player's physical stature.
"Just seeing him on the sideline, you’re like ‘Ok, this guys fits the body type build,’" said Douglas.
Game film later uncovered what Douglas needed to see from the prospect.
"Going back and watching the tape on him last year, you see all these traits and you see everything that really good offensive tackles are made of in the National Football League – the size, the length, the pass pro ability, the balance," said Douglas. "So, feel good about hopefully getting a steal here in Day 3 on a guy with a lot of upside."
NFL Draft Bible Scouting Report on Warren (Excerpt):
"He has
a quick reaction to the snap and gains adequate depth with his first step and kick slide. Warren’s kick slide is smooth and
quick, but he often plays with an elevated pad level, which causes leverage issues. The former three-star recruit
operates his hands independently, which helps him deaden rushes and guard against mistakes. He has long arms and
untapped upper body strength that will help him improve his striking and hand placement with more coaching. Warren
has the anchor to deaden bull rushes and is well-proportioned throughout his frame. Warren doesn’t have much bend in
his knees, but he mostly avoids leaning on defenders and displays good balance in pass protection. He guides pass
rushers upfield and around the pocket to keep his quarterback clean. Warren offers some upside as a puller, but he’s not
an impressive athlete in space. He performs better when operating in confined spaces."
- NFL Draft Bible
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