Jets 2024 NFL Draft takeaways: Lots of trades, all with the goal of an improved offense

Joe Douglas really earned the “Trader Joe” nickname during the NFL Draft this year.

In total, the New York Jets general manager made seven trades over three days. That included trading back one spot in the first round and trading up in the third round to get wide receiver Malachi Corley. He made three trades in the fourth round — adding a 2025 third-round pick in the process — and traded up in the fifth round to get quarterback Jordan Travis. To top it all off, Douglas also sent veteran defensive end John Franklin-Myers to the Broncos for a 2026 sixth-round pick.

As for the actual draft picks: Owner Woody Johnson said it best at the owners’ meetings in March: “Offense, offense, offense.”

That was the Jets’ top focus in free agency and on the trade market and that continued into draft weekend. The Jets made seven selections and only two (cornerback Qwan’tez Stiggers and safety Jaylen Key) were defensive players. It’s hard to blame Douglas for that: The Jets ranked 29th in scoring offense last year — and 12th in scoring defense.

Here’s a closer look at their 2024 draft class.

The picks

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Best value pick

QB Jordan Travis, Florida State

Most of the Jets’ picks fell pretty much in line with where the players were projected to go. But Travis is perhaps the most interesting selection of them all as a quarterback who probably would’ve been drafted much higher (possibly as high as the second or third round) had he not suffered a broken leg in November. Douglas has said he wants to become a “quarterback factory,” adding quarterbacks later in drafts to develop instead of throwing them into the fire. Travis is a smart first foray into that idea.

The Athletic’s Dane Brugler tempered expectations on what Travis will be in the NFL looking beyond the injury issues: “Travis is a competitive and creative dual-threat quarterback, but the sporadic elements to his game and average size/arm limit his NFL upside. He projects as a No. 2 or 3 option best-suited for a rhythm offense.”

Isaiah Davis was the second of two running backs the Jets drafted. (Vasha Hunt / USA Today)

Most surprising pick

RB Isaiah Davis, South Dakota State

It’s not that picking Davis was necessarily a bad idea. He’s a big, strong runner and was highly productive in college. The bigger issue is that the Jets had just drafted a running back in the fourth round (Wisconsin’s Braelon Allen) who also profiles as a power back. Clearly, the Jets made it a priority to add weapons to one of the league’s worst offenses, no matter the position. But picking two running backs when they could use some more depth at guard or on defense at safety and defensive line is a little confusing.

Biggest question mark

What are the Jets doing at defensive end?

The Jets traded Franklin-Myers to the Broncos in an offseason when they also lost Bryce Huff to free agency. Of course, they added star edge rusher Haason Reddick, one of the league’s premier pass-rush specialists. Jermaine Johnson, a Pro Bowler in 2023, returns as a starter, too. Johnson and Reddick are one of the league’s better defensive end duos, but there are mostly question marks behind them. Franklin-Myers was a team leader and solid player, whose best value came with his ability to play defensive end and slide inside on some passing downs next to Quinnen Williams. The trade was to save cap space and to give Franklin-Myers a shot at more playing time elsewhere, but getting back only a sixth-round pick was surprising.

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This means 2023 first-round pick Will McDonald will likely receive more playing time than originally planned after Reddick was acquired, though McDonald is almost exclusively a pass rusher at this stage and has a long way to go as a run stopper. Micheal Clemons had a bad year in 2023 even if the Jets view him as a versatile defensive end in the Franklin-Myers mold. The Jets knew they’d be trading Franklin-Myers for more than a week, so it’s surprising Douglas didn’t draft a defensive end. Perhaps he’ll look to free agency to bring in a more reliable veteran than the Jets’ current group.

Remaining needs

Defensive end, as mentioned, now becomes a need, at least in terms of depth.

Safety is arguably a need, though the Jets re-signed Chuck Clark and Ashtyn Davis this offseason and believe in third-year safety Tony Adams. They had an opportunity to pick Washington State’s Jaden Hicks in the fourth round but opted instead to trade back a few times and pick Allen. They added Key in the seventh round but he isn’t a lock to make the team.

The Jets don’t have much reliable depth at guard/center behind starters Joe Tippmann, Alijah Vera-Tucker and John Simpson. Wes Schweitzer is a veteran but injury-prone, including last year. Max Mitchell can play both guard and tackle, and others on the roster — Xavier Newman and Jake Hanson — got some starting experience last season. But the Jets could still use another body in this group to push Newman, Hanson and others for a roster spot.

Post-draft outlook

The Jets addressed their biggest needs early, getting an insurance policy at left tackle with Penn State’s Olu Fashanu in the first round and adding wide receiver Malachi Corley at the top of the third round. Allen and Davis add needed depth at running back. Travis gives the Jets a better third quarterback then they had at any point last season.

Some of Douglas’ picks were more for the future (Fashanu, Travis, Stiggers) while others, like Corley and Allen, should make an immediate impact. Douglas’ draft picks won’t make or break the Jets’ season, though, whether they work out or not. Ultimately, it will come down to an improved coaching performance and some luck in the injury department.

If Aaron Rodgers stays healthy, the Jets have one of the most talented rosters in the NFL on paper — though one with plenty of injury questions. Douglas did a good job of supplementing the other moves he made this offseason in the draft and the Jets don’t have any glaring needs, even if depth is an issue in a few areas.

(Top photos of Malachi Corley and Olu Fashanu: Michael Reaves / Getty Images and Ben Queen / USA Today)