The New York Jets’ biggest move this week was finalizing a trade to acquire Aaron Rodgers from the Green Bay Packers. Whatever happened after that during the 2023 NFL Draft was gravy as the franchise addressed what they felt was their biggest need; upgrading at quarterback.
With Rodgers in the mix, the team feels as if they have a real chance to contend for a Super Bowl. There is a lot of optimism surrounding Gang Green for the first time in a long time and rightfully so. While 2022 was a struggle, a healthy Rodgers is still one of the best quarterbacks in the league.
New York has spent most of their picks looking to support Rodgers. Their picks in the second and third rounds were offensive linemen to bolster their depth in the trenches. Center Joe Tippmann out of Wisconsin was selected in the second round and tackle Carter Warren out of Pittsburgh was selected in the fourth round.
Warren will have at least one familiar face at the facility, as the Jets used their fifth-round pick on his teammate, running back Israel Abanikanda. Abanikanda had some explosive highlights from his time at Pitt, where he was one of the most productive players in the nation in 2022.
According to Next Gen Stats, he was one of the better prospects when it came to production and athleticism. His 20 rushing touchdowns last season were tied for most in FBS and recorded impressive broad jump and vertical jump scores, landing in the top-5 percent of running backs since 2003.
The Jets are getting some lightning to combine with the thunder of 2022 second-round pick Breece Hall. Hall and Abanikanda should create a dynamic duo for New York, giving Rodgers some familiarity from his time with the Packers where they were rolling with Aaron Jones and A.J. Dillon.
The value of selecting Israel Abanikanda in the fifth round is excellent, as the Jets’ offense has some serious juice heading into 2023. After years of waiting for the Packers to give him weapons, the Jets have delivered him skill position players in droves.
