NY Jets heavily connected to 3 WR prospects entering draft Day 2

The New York Jets have done their homework on these three wide receiver prospects

The first round of the NFL draft has finally passed and the New York Jets selected offensive tackle Olu Fashanu from Penn State. Offensive tackle was a short- and long-term need as Tyron Smith and Morgan Moses have injury concerns and are not under contract beyond 2024.

The Jets’ selection of an offensive tackle leaves one clear need entering Day 2: wide receiver.

Taking a playmaker was an option for the Jets on Thursday, but they can still address the need on Day 2. While there are plenty of players they could target in a talented class, a few players stand out due to the Jets’ interest in them during the pre-draft process: Malachi Corley, Roman Wilson, and Brenden Rice.

The Jets spent plenty of time with all three of these prospects. All three attended the Senior Bowl, which is an event the Jets routinely target players from. This year, defensive coordinator Jeff Ulbrich coached the National team, which had all three players as well.

After spending a week doing drills and playing a game, the Jets still wanted to see more, bringing each of them in for top 30 visits.

On his big board, NFL Network’s Daniel Jeremiah ranks Corley 44th, Wilson 58th, and Rice 126th, respectively. Meanwhile, CBS projected them to be selected 57th, 50th, and 76th respectively, in a mock draft this morning.

The Jets have the following picks after trading back last night:

• 72nd (3rd)
• 111th (4th)
• 129th (4th)
• 134th (4th)
• 157th (5th)
• 185th (6th)
• 257th (7th)

Cumulatively, these selections are worth the equivalent of the 47th overall pick, per the Jimmy Johnson value chart. To target one of these players, a realistic move for the Jets could be to move up to the 60th overall pick, would cost the 72nd and 111th picks, according to the chart.

If Joe Douglas wants Corley or Wilson, he has the ammunition to trade up for them. If not, Rice is a safe fallback option that can be acquired later.

The Jets have their star in Garrett Wilson, and Mike Williams is a star in his own right. However, Williams is recovering from an ACL injury and the rest of the receiving room disappointed in 2023. Ideally, the Jets need to get a receiver as soon as possible in this draft. The three targets we discussed today are worth keeping an eye on.

FOR MORE AT JETS X-FACTOR, VISIT/SUBSCRIBE AT: NY Jets heavily connected to 3 WR prospects entering draft Day 2 | Jets X-Factor