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New York Jets

BREAKING NEWS: Regarding the Jets, Matt Miller of ESPN says, “It Starts With Protecting Aaron Rodgers” in the NFL Draft.

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4 months ago

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Carter Warren, Joe Tippmann, and Alijah Vera-Tucker are G&W’s Three “Solid Young Players” on OL.

The Jets’ offensive line needs to be strengthened and given more depth if quarterback Aaron Rodgers is to remain upright following his recovery from Achilles tendon surgery. This is maybe the NFL’s worst-kept secret.

“The most important thing is to protect Aaron Rodgers,” ESPN draft expert Matt Miller stated on a recent episode of “The Official Jets Podcast.” “The quarterback, who is 40 years old, just had an Achilles injury. That is not what we have observed. Even in the brief time we had with Aaron last season, we said that you had to protect him.”

Miller said, “The Jets need linemen,” when speaking with Eric Allen. “I believe that we are still attempting to define what AVT will be. After he graduated from USC, I was a big fan of his because of his versatility. They can feel like they have a couple of guys because [center] Tippmann is still in the mix and [guard] Carter Warren showed some things last year.

“I think the three men on the Jets are good young players. They have identified its core. Can they then bring in an experienced tackle? Maybe you have your left tackle down pat and Tyron Smith, the free-agent tackle for the Dallas Cowboys, wants to come to New York to pursue a ring. Then, you’re seated at [No.] 10 in the NFL Draft in April, believing that you can solve a problem there. This draft had a lot of right tackles. Right tackle is wealthy at pick 10, while left tackle may be a free-agency addition.”

After being chosen No. 14 overall in the 2021 selection, Vera-Tucker, 24, will begin his third season with the Jets. He is also recovering from an Achilles tendon injury. Despite being one of the league’s most versatile O-linemen—having played both guard and tackle—GM Joe Douglas and head coach Robert Saleh have committed to anchoring AVT at one position come 2024.

Miller hinted that if the Jets were able to acquire a left tackle in free agency, they might decide to trade down from the No. 10 pick. Tyron Smith of the Chiefs, Jonah Williams of the Bengals, Donovan Smith of the Chiefs, Charles Leno of the Commanders, and Jermaine Eluemunor of the Raiders are some of these alternatives.

“If you can solve left tackle in free agency or trade, then you can slide back and get a right tackle,” Miller stated. “Those people are packed in a pretty tight group. Other than [Taliese] Fuaga [Oregon State], there isn’t a single right tackle that I would say I need to choose with pick number ten. They might prefer Tyler Guyton [TCU/Oklahoma] just as much if Fuaga is not selected, and in that case, they could go back and recoup some of the additional draft cash they utilized to acquire a player like Aaron Rodgers.”

Miller went even a bit deeper in his praise of Guyton (6-7, 328), who played both left and right tackle for the Sooners after transferring from TCU in January 2022. In his first season with Oklahoma, he took 400 snaps and allowed only 2 sacks and zero QB hits.

“I love him,” Miller said. “I think it is a matter of he is learning. But my goodness, all of the athletic tools are there. My comparison for him is Lane Johnson [Eagles], who was a guy that moved from quarterback to tight end to offensive tackle. Guyton has some of that similar good to his game. The frame is there, the agility is there, the movement is there, the mentality is all there, he just needs a little more time to become great. He could be your Week 1 starting right tackle, but there is a lot of room there to get better.”

Staying with the offense, Miller believes the Jets would be well served to consider drafting a quarterback on Day 3, April 27, of the draft. Douglas said that the Jets have given Zach Wilson’s representative permission to seek a trade, which means the Green & White will be in the market for a No. 2 and perhaps a No. 3 who could be developed over the next several years.

“I would draft a quarterback every year if you have the picks to do it,” Miller said. At present, the Jets have five draft picks (none in the second round) including two in the fourth round while three late-round compensatory selections could be on the way.

“This is a weak quarterback class on Day 3,” Miller said. “Spencer Rattler [Oklahoma/South Carolina] would be fun behind Aaron Rodgers, but he is probably going to go in the third round and I can’t justify spending a third-round pick on a quarterback. But I think you look at a guy like Carter Bradley from South Alabama, Michael Pratt from Tulane. I think this is a year to be smart and they have even said they want to try and have a better plan behind Aaron this year. But, I do think this is a year you make sure you get a young QB in the building.”

“If you can solve left tackle in free agency or trade, then you can slide back and get a right tackle,” Miller stated. “Those people are packed in a pretty tight group. Other than [Taliese] Fuaga [Oregon State], there isn’t a single right tackle that I would say I need to choose with pick number ten. They might prefer Tyler Guyton [TCU/Oklahoma] just as much if Fuaga is not selected, and in that case, they could go back and recoup some of the additional draft cash they utilized to acquire a player like Aaron Rodgers.”

 

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