The start of the 2023 NFL season also means the 2024 draft cycle is starting to kick into gear. With the college season already underway, draft prospects are already starting to make a name for themselves as we begin the road to the 2024 NFL Draft in Detroit in April.
Our friend Curt Popejoy of Draft Wire recently unveiled a fresh two-round mock draft, so we’ll quickly take a look at the player he has going to the Jets here. As a note, yes, this mock does have the Jets making a pick in the first round and not in the second. Technically, the 2024 pick owed to the Packers hasn’t officially become a first-round pick yet — Aaron Rodgers must play 65% of the offensive snaps for the condition to be met — so for now, mocks could still have the Jets making a pick in the first round.
With the 26th pick in Popejoy’s mock, the Jets select OT Kingsley Suamataia from BYU. “The Jets get a massive blindside protector who plays with excellent agility and footwork,” Popejoy wrote.
Listed at six-foot-six and 315 pounds, Suamataia was named to the Preseason All-Big 12 team after allowing zero sacks in 361 pass-block snaps in 2022 (12 starts). 2022 was his first season at BYU after transferring from Oregon. He was a five-star and top-40 overall recruit out of high school while winning four straight state championships at Orem (Utah) High School.
The Jets did draft Carter Warren in the fourth round this year but should continue looking for offensive tackle help, especially with both Duane Brown and Mekhi Becton set to become free agents after the season.
But again, chances are the Jets may not be in a position to get a player like Suamataia since it’s almost a certainty they will not have a first-round pick. But at least we can start keeping an eye toward the future.