Seven-round NFL mock draft: Jets trade up in the first round to get best player

The Jets trade picks Nos. 10 (1st), 72 (3rd), and 2025 2nd-rounder to the Arizona Cardinals for picks No. 4 (1st) and 138(5th)

Why it’s Harrison: It’s time to stop messing around. The Jets have not made the playoffs in over a decade, and they have a short window to compete with the 40-year-old future Hall of Famer Aaron Rodgers. Harrison is arguably the best prospect in the draft class and fills a position of need.

Dane Brugler of The Athletic says of Harrison:

Overall, Harrison has dominant receiving traits and can win from anywhere on the field, because of his athletic gifts, route savvy and adjustment/finishing skills at the catch point. He is among the best receiving prospects to enter the NFL in recent memory, and he has the dedication to his craft to be a playmaking No. 1 NFL receiver and future All-Pro.

You simply don’t pass up on that kind of talent with a short window to win. Now is not the time to think about building for the future, it is time to win.

I wrote earlier that the Jets held on to their second-round pick in 2025 for a reason and I believe this could be it. There is a chance to take your offense over the top and they should do it if they get the chance.

Harrison not only starts from day one as your number two receiver, but he likely will push former Ohio State teammate Garrett Wilson to be the number one receiver within a year or two. This will give the Jets the best tandem of pass catchers then they have ever had in their history. That would also make things a little easier for the quarterback who replaces Rodgers.

Round 4, No. 111 Overall: Matt Goncalves, OT Pittsburgh Panthers

Why it’s Goncalves: You got Rodgers all the weapons he could ever need to run an elite offense, now it’s time to make sure he stays upright. The Jets already bolstered their offensive line with the additions of future Hall of Famer Tyron Smith, and John Simpson and Morgan Moses from the Baltimore Ravens. Time to add some depth for in/when someone misses time.

Goncalves, a fifth-year senior is from the Long Island area and the Jets love to bring in the guys from their own backyard. He has a large frame and can work outside as a tackle because of his length or inside at guard because of his size. He has some work to do in refining his game but has all the raw tools to provide some decent depth along the offensive front.

Round 4, No. 134 Overall: DeWayne Carter, DL Duke Blue Devils

Why it’s Carter: You didn’t think you would go past round four and Robert Saleh doesn’t get at least one defensive lineman did you? The Jets love their rotational defensive linemen and love high-motor guys even more.

ESPN’s Louis Riddick listed Carter as one of his favorite sleepers in the draft and wrote of the fifth-year senior “Carter simply never stops. He has the ultimate motor. And his skill set allows him to move up and down the line of scrimmage, rushing from the edge or moving inside to defensive tackle.”

Carter doesn’t have a singular trait that makes him stand out, but his high motor and high IQ make him a difference maker on the field. Sounds like a guy Robert Saleh and Jeff Ulbrich dream of in the draft. 

Round 5, No. 138 Overall: Will Shipley, RB Clemson Tigers

Why it’s Shipley: The Jets are likely to bring in a veteran running back to pair with Breece Hall, and Izzy Abanikanda is third down type of back. But Shipley might be able to save them the trouble.

Shipley doesn’t have the build to be an every-down back in the NFL, but the Jets wouldn’t need him to be. He is an athletic runner with tremendous balance who can catch the ball out of the back field. 

Round 6, No. 185 Overall: Kalen King, CB Penn State Nittany Lions

Why it’s King: The Jets tout one of the best secondaries in the NFL behind Sauce Gardner, DJ Reed and Michael Carter III, but Reed and Carter are free agents after this season and Sauce is going to be in line for a major pay day in a year or two. At some point you won’t be able to sign everyone.

King is a former four-star recruit who eyes the big play because of his aggressive play personality. King will take a lot of chances and sometime give up a long play because of it. He will have to learn to play more within the system and improve his tackling, but he has a high ceiling and no pressure to start right away.

Round 7, No. 256 Overall: Edefuan Ulofoshio, LB Washington Huskies

Why it’s Ulofoshio: Not a highly ranked player coming out of Anchorage, Alaska, “Jeffrey” is the son of a Nigerian immigrant went widely overlooked by college programs, because his breakout didn’t come until his senior season. Ulofoshio was a preferred walk on at Washington and earned a scholarship after his second season. He was named the 2023 Guy Flaherty Award winner, which goes to the most inspirational Huskies player.

Ulofoshio was a three-year starter at Washington and was a beast on special teams, where he figures to make the most impact in the NFL. He has an “all-in” mentality and will make a name for himself as special teams giants while pushing for playing time at linebacker.

Round 7, No. 257 Overall: Sam Hartman, QB Notre Dame Fighting Irish

Why it’s Hartman: Shhhh… If you listen closely, you can already hear the comparisons to another former Mr. Irrelevant quarterback pick, Brock Purdy. The Jets have to take at least one crack this year at finding Rodgers’ replacement and what better way to do it then with the last pick in the entire draft.

Hartman does not wow anyone with his arm, but as the Jets have learned in the past, having a great arm does NOT make you a great QB . Hartman has average velocity and power. But he is an accurate passer especially when he makes the correct reads. He is a tough kid, a leader, and has all the other intangibles you want in an NFL quarterback. He may wind up being nothing more than a journeyman backup in the NFL if he even lasts that long, but if he is put in the game, the guys will certainly rally around him.

Final results

Below is what the Jets' 2024 draft class would look like if things went down in the above fashion:

• Round 1, No. 4 overall: WR Marvin Harrison Jr., Ohio State Buckeyes
• Round 4, No. 111 overall: OT Matt Goncalves, Pitt Panthers
• Round 4, No. 134 overall: DT DeWayne Carter, Duke Blue Devils
• Round 5, No. 138 overall: HB Will Shipley, Clemson Tigers
• Round 6, No. 185 overall: CB Kalen King, Penn State Nittany Lions
• Round 7, No. 256 overall: LB Edefuan Ulofoshio, Washington Huskies
• Round 7, No. 257 overall: QB Sam Hartman, Notre Dame Fighting Irish

The Jets go all-in behind Aaron Rodgers and the 2024 team while still grabbing some key building blocks for the future.  If these picks work out, then the longest playoff drought in professional sports should end this season.