As the Jets continue to work towards hiring a new GM and HC, we’re starting to look deeper at the list of offseason tasks. 

Last week we took a quick look at some key pieces the Jets may want to work to keep in the building, and today we’re going to be looking at potential additions through the draft. 

One of the marquee events of the offseason, the NFL Draft represents an opportunity to improve your team, and in a hurry. For a team picking inside the top 10, it’s a chance to snag an elite prospect that offers immediate impact. 

Some teams draft for need, whilst others work on a ‘best player available’ approach. When those two approaches overlap, good things happen. 

Today, I wanted to outline four potential prospects the Jets could be eyeing up with their 7th overall selection. It’s important to note that we’re still at the start of this process. Later this month we have the Senior Bowl down in Alabama, then comes the NFL Combine, individual meetings and interviews and a whole lot of deep diving. 

It’s always hard to project players at certain draft spots. One unexpected selection or one major trade can throw the draft into upheaval, but even at this point in the process you tend to have a vague idea of who is likely to go in the top 10. So here are some top prospects to watch for the Jets; note that this isn’t an exhaustive list, just four players who are good options. 

Mason Graham – Defensive Tackle – Michigan

If, like me, you’re addicted to mock drafts, this is a name you’ll be very familiar with. Graham is projected to the Jets more than any other player and for good reason. Rated as PFF’s #1 defensive tackle in college this season, Graham possesses all the skills required to make an effortless leap to the NFL. Graham spent three productive years at Michigan, which included a national title in 2023, and his disruptive nature inside would be the perfect complement to Quinnen Williams, giving the Jets one of the premier pairings of defensive tackles in football.

9 sacks and 18 tackles for loss over the last three years don’t do his impact justice. His 12% run stop rate was the 2nd highest in college football and his sub 5% missed tackle rate is elite. He has the upper body strength and agility to work as both a pass-rusher and run defender and his high motor and effort would be welcomed by whoever is named the Jets new Head Coach. 

Abdul Carter – Defensive End – Penn State

There’s a reason that Micah Parsons is campaigning for Carter in Dallas. The Penn State product is one of the most dominant pass-rushers to come out of college in a while. Some will question his ability to stand up in the run-game, but his ability against the run is far superior than a lot of pass-rushers who have been taken in the first round recently. Carter is coming off a 13 sack, 66 pressure season with Penn State and he’s equally productive coming off the left or right side. 

Although the Jets have two very good pass-rushers in Jermaine Johnson and Will McDonald, you can never have too many players capable of disrupting the QB. There’s a very good chance that Carter is taken before the Jets come to make their selection, but if he is there it’s going to give the Jets a lot to think about. 

Will Campbell – Offensive Tackle – LSU

If you’re looking for an offensive tackle you’re in luck. The 2025 draft could see as many as seven offensive tackles taken in the first round, and I’m pretty confident stating at least four will go within the first 25 picks. I’m still not entirely sure who the best tackle in the draft is; most have Will Campbell, some have Josh Simmons from Ohio State and some have Kelvin Banks Jr from Texas. For the sake of this piece, I’m going to go with Will Campbell from LSU. 

Campbell has everything you want from a tackle. He’s a dominant pass-protector, who plays with excellent leverage and hand-placement with the anchor to handle bull rushes and the agility to combat speed rushers. In over 1,500 pass-blocking snaps in college he’s allowed only 49 pressures and 4 sacks, that’s a pressure every 33 snaps and a sack every 398 snaps. 

The Jets drafted a tackle last year in Olu Fashanu and taking Campbell would mean moving one of them to RT, but on the plus side it would give the Jets a dominant pair of tackles for the next decade. Building through the trenches is never a bad idea in my opinion. 

Will Johnson – Cornerback – Michigan

The Jets have been very fortunate recently with the outside corner pairing of Sauce Gardner and D.J. Reed, but with Reed heading to free agency there may be a pressing need for a more permanent partner for Sauce. Enter Will Johnson, who is largely considered a top-10 prospect and the #1 out-and-out corner, although cornerback/receiver Travis Hunter will likely be picked ahead of Johnson. 

Johnson possesses the size, length and frame for a starting corner in the NFL and his physicality and versatility make him ideal for any system. At Michigan he’s played a mix of man and zone coverage, and his 9 interceptions in the last three years show that he has a nose for the ball. 

Only three teams in the NFL recorded fewer interceptions than the Jets 7 this year, and considering Johnson has that turnover potential to go with the skillset and the stats (0 touchdowns allowed in the last two years, 53.6% career passing completion allowed) he would be a very interesting prospect for the Jets.