The following is an excerpt from Warren Sharp’s 2024 Football Preview book. In addition to Warren’s deep, detailed write-up on all 32 NFL teams, each chapter features page after page of full-color charts, stats, and heatmaps as well as draft class analysis from Ryan McCrystal. Click here for a full FREE chapter from the 2024 Football Preview.
With 2024 NFL training camps on the horizon, we’re starting to understand how 2024 NFL draft classes will impact each roster this season.
Let’s look at the New York Jets, breaking down the most likely instant-impact rookies from each class, while also providing some insight into why certain early picks may not see the field.
Who are the New York Jets rookies?
- Olu Fashanu — OT — Round 1
- Malachi Corley — WR — Round 3
- Braelon Allen — RB — Round 4
- Jordan Travis — QB — Round 5
- Isaiah Davis — RB — Round 5
- Qwan’tez Stiggers — CB — Round 5
- Jaylen Key — S — Round 7
New York Jets Draft Class Grade:
The New York Jets received a C+ draft grade from Sharp Football.
Which Jets Rookies Will Make An Impact?
The Jets don’t have an immediate opening for Olu Fashanu (first round), but adding quality depth to ensure protection for Aaron Rodgers was a priority this offseason. Fashanu was a two-year starter at left tackle at Penn State and will likely take that job from Tyron Smith following the 2024 season. Fashanu may also get some training camp reps on the right side so he’s ready to fill in for Morgan Moses if needed. If he’s forced into action as a rookie, expect Fashanu to look more polished in pass protection than the run game. When quarterbacks took a traditional dropback of three or more steps last year, Fashanu’s blown block rate of 1.8% led all Big Ten tackles.
Malachi Corley (third round) is likely to start immediately as the slot receiver, where he almost exclusively lined up last year at Western Kentucky. Corley is inconsistent as a pass catcher, but his playmaking ability after the catch should make him a good fit for the Jets offense. Based on route-adjusted data, Corley’s catch rate was 2.3% below expected last year, but his yards after catch were 20% above expected.
Braelon Allen (fourth round) and Isaiah Davis (fifth round) were redundant picks, as both are downhill runners without the athletic traits to set a ceiling higher than a potential early-down back. Allen is just 20 years old, so perhaps there’s more upside with him, but it’s not as though he’s inexperienced 一 the three-year starter had over 600 touches during his time at Wisconsin. As you would expect for a 235-pound back, Allen’s strength is producing after contact. When accounting for men in the box and the inside/outside direction of the run, Allen gained 26% more yards after contact than expected, ranked third in the Big Ten last season. Expect both Allen and Davis to compete with Israel Abanikanda for the backup job, with one of those three likely getting left off the 53-man roster.
Jordan Travis (fifth round) will be the Jets’ third-string quarterback behind Rodgers and Tyrod Taylor. Travis’ physical tools compare favorably to Taylor’s, so this is probably an ideal landing spot for him to learn behind some veterans. Accuracy has always been Travis’ strength. His route-adjusted on-target rate was 5.0% above expected over the last two seasons, which ranked fourth among qualified Power Five quarterbacks in that span.
Cornerback Qwan’tez Stiggers (fifth round) was one of the most exciting developmental prospects to come off the board on Day 3. Stiggers never played college football but landed in the Fan Controlled Football league in 2022, which earned him a contract with the Toronto Argonauts of the CFL last season. It’s rare for players to jump from the CFL to the NFL and make an impact, but Stiggers is just 22 years old and looked out of place in the CFL as one of the most athletic ball hawks in the league.
Mr. Irrelevant Jaylen Key (seventh round) was a late bloomer in college, failing to earn a starting role at UAB until he was a fifth-year senior, but he then performed well enough to transfer to Alabama and start for Nick Saban in 2023. The upside to his career getting off to a slow start is he has plenty of experience on special teams, which will be his ticket to a roster spot with the Jets.
This is an odd draft class for the Jets, who are obviously all in on building a championship roster over the final two years of Rodgers’ contract. Corley is likely to be the only rookie contributor for this class, though the selection of Fashanu still made sense to provide quality depth and a left tackle option for 2025 and beyond. However, none of the Day 3 selections are likely to see any significant action, even as backups. Stiggers is an exciting developmental prospect, but even if he hits down the road, it would be surprising if the Jets landed more than three meaningful contributors from this class.
This analysis continues in the 2024 Football Preview
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