The New York Jets are in contention for the saddest franchise in NFL history, but all that can change with one stellar selection at the 2025 NFL draft. The Jets finished 5-12 last season and have decided to move forward without Aaron Rodgers on the roster. This leaves them in need of a quarterback from either free agency or the 2025 NFL draft. With a 14-year playoff drought hanging over them, New York has little hope of landing big-name talent outside of the draft.
New York Jets Needs and Draft Strategy
Quarterback:
There is no question about the Jets’ top priority in the 2025 NFL Draft: they need a quarterback. After suffering an injury on the first drive of the 2023 season and spending a year on the sidelines, Aaron Rodgers struggled throughout the 2024 season. He isn’t getting any younger, the Jets’ Super Bowl aspirations are nonexistent, and the franchise made the right call by letting him hit the open market this offseason.
New York has had a poor history of drafting quarterbacks, and there isn’t an obvious selection at 7th overall to address this glaring need. They could opt for a mid-round prospect and sign a veteran in free agency, but regardless of their strategy, this is a challenging situation.
Offensive Tackle:
In today’s NFL, few positions are more critical than offensive tackle, and the Jets must find a way to protect their next quarterback. Rodgers took 40 sacks last season, and the offensive line deserves a hefty share of the blame. Tyron Smith and Morgan Moses struggled with injuries, leaving the Jets with no choice but to use one of their first three picks to reinforce this position.
Safety and Cornerback:
The entire secondary is in desperate need of an overhaul. Sauce Gardner (better known as Ice Spice’s boyfriend these days) isn’t going anywhere, but he’s been stranded on an island without help. DJ Reed got torched too often, and safeties Chuck Clark and Tony Adams lack the physicality needed to prevent big plays. The Jets will likely spend multiple draft picks upgrading the secondary, and Gardner will be thrilled to have some reinforcements against physical receivers.
How many picks do the New York Jets have in the 2025 Draft?
The New York Jets have eight picks in the 2025 NFL draft. Their abysmal season earned them the 7th overall selection, and their extra pick in the draft comes in the 5th round, courtesy of the Pittsburgh Steelers. Their selections this year are as follows:
- 1st Round: 7th Overall
- 2nd Round: 42nd Overall
- 3rd Round: 92nd Overall
- 4th Round: 109th Overall
- 5th Round: 146th Overall
- 5th Round: 157th Overall
- 6th Round: 188th Overall
- 7th Round: 209th Overall
The Jets’ third-round pick is not their own, as they traded it for DeVante Adams but picked up the Detroit Lions third-round pick from the Giovanni Manu swap. Their extra pick comes from the Mike Williams trade to the Pittsburgh Steelers—a rare move that has aged well for New York, as Williams struggled throughout most of last season.
Potential New York Jets Draft Picks 2025
1st Round, 7th Overall: Josh Simmons (Offensive Tackle, Ohio State)
It may be surprising to see the New York Jets pass on a quarterback with their first-round pick, but it’s probably the right move with Simmons still on the board. Caleb Sanders and Dorian Ward will most likely be long gone by the time the Jets pick, and reaching for that Jaxson Dart that early would be a mistake. Instead, they’re projected to go with dominant offensive tackle Josh Simmons at No. 7.
Simmons has battled injuries in the past, but he seems to have put those issues behind him. He has the frame needed to succeed in the NFL and has shown steady improvements with every snap.
2nd Round, 49th Overall: Tyler Shough (Quarterback, Louisville)
Tyler Shough hasn’t received the same mainstream media coverage as other quarterbacks in this draft, but he’ll get plenty of attention when he’s the fourth or fifth signal-caller off the board.
Shough has the frame to withstand the rigors of the NFL, and his ability to thread passes into tight windows will serve him well at the pro level. Durability could be a concern due to him spending considerable time on the sidelines in college, but a healthy senior year will ensure his draft stock holds steady.
3rd Round, 92nd Overall: Kevin Winston Jr. (Safety, Penn State)
It is widely accepted that the corner position is more important than safety, but the Jets will start from the back end in an attempt to rebuild their previously dominant defense. Winston Jr. is a physical tackler who can bring down receivers in the open field. He has the size to match up with tight ends and the speed to stick with receivers down the sideline. His versatility makes him an ideal fit for a defense in need of playmakers.
