Mock Draft - Where I'm At

Edition #362

Good morning! ☀️

There was a report going around linking the San Francisco 49ers with Aaron Rodgers, which caused me momentary panic. I then went in search of where that originated and that panic subsided when I saw it came courtesy of Craig Carton…and actually paused to think about it. Why would the 49ers give up draft capital for Rodgers considering they have Brock Purdy who led them to an NFC Championship, and Trey Lance who needs a shot to show what he has? It doesn’t make sense.

We’ve still got around 3 weeks until draft day, so I’d expect a few more of these rumors to appear to try and generate some pressure to get a deal done.

I’m going to run through some quick notes to start things off and then put down a 7-round mock draft, purely to highlight where my head is in terms of the Jets and their plan.

🚨 Todd McShay released a two-round mock draft yesterday and he projected offensive line help for the Jets. In his mock, the Jets selected OT Paris Johnson out of OSU at pick #13 before taking center Joe Tippmann of Wisconsin at pick #42. With the #43 pick that we almost certainly won’t have after the Aaron Rodgers trade, he has Joe Douglas taking Brian Branch out of Alabama.

💪 Washington State LB Daiyan Henley was at the Jets facility yesterday for a visit. I haven’t personally watched him so here is the NFL scouting report on him: “A rambunctious inside linebacker with good speed and toughness, Henley’s playing style can be described as more active than instinctive. His inconsistency in reading keys and anticipating the play flow is mitigated somewhat by his speed and talent to wrap and finish in space. He has excellent range and does a nice job of stepping downhill to challenge blockers and running lanes. There are some eye-catching production totals in the takeaway column and favorable physical elements to his game, but inefficient movement combined with recognition delays could push him toward a backup and core special teams role in the future.”

⛔ McShay wasn’t the only one to release a mock yesterday, PFF went one better and released a three-round mock (take that ESPN you lazy fools). In that draft, they had the Jets taking defensive tackle Calijah Kancey, followed by…absolutely nobody because they predict we’ll send both second-round picks to Green Bay for Aaron Rodgers. This Jets fan would not be very impressed with that.

✈️ Western Kentucky Defensive Tackle Brodric Martin will be taking part in a private workout with the Jets. He's a big man at 6’5 and 320 lbs and has registered 4 sacks and 6 tackles for a loss over two years with WK.

🍻 The Jets will be hosting a draft party on the 27th of April for the first round of the draft, hosted by former linebacker Bart Scott. The event is completely free and anyone attending will get a commemorative t-shirt on entering the stadium. There will be a Bud Light beer garden, a chance to meet current and former players, and some music too, as well as an opportunity to access the locker room, etc. Tickets will be available on the Jets website from the 6th of April.

🚔 Ex-Jets first-round pick Darron Lee was arrested on Monday after being accused of beating the mother of his child as well as his own mother. There are some pretty disturbing details of the incident which you can read here if you wish.

🧀 NFL Yahoo reporter Charles Robinson said on his podcast that the Jets had offered the Packers multiple second-round picks, one this year and one next year, with the one next year escalating to a first-round pick. In return, they’ve asked for Aaron Rodgers and a 2025 pick, but that 2025 pick would only come across if Rodgers retired after the 2023 season. Green Bay wants a guaranteed first-round pick, so basically instead of the 2nd with escalators next season, they want a first with no strings attached. If both teams hold, this is going to drag on and on.

I have a love/hate relationship with mock drafts, for me, it’s a good way to learn more about multiple prospects, and it’s also a good way for me to understand the logic (or lack of) of the writer. On the other hand, there are far too many of them.

I don’t put out a ton of mock drafts through the off-season anymore, but I am going to add to the mock draft stockpile today with a seven-round mock draft, but it will be the last one I do before the draft.