New York Jets Select Safety Help In Recent Third-Round NFL Mock Draft

The New York Jets have just one pick on the second day of the NFL Draft and they could maximize it by getting some defensive help.

The New York Jets don’t have a second-round pick in the 2024 NFL Draft. It was part of the price they paid to trade for quarterback Aaron Rodgers last year.

Rodgers should return from his Achilles injury this season. But a recent seven-round mock draft by The Athletic indicates the Jets will maximize its one second-day selection for defense.

The Jets will select No. 72 overall on Day 2 and The Athletic projects New York will take Minnesota safety Tyler Nubin.

The St. Charles, Ill., native played his entire college career for the Golden Gophers. Last season he was one of the best safeties in the nation, as he earned First-Team All-American and First-Team All-Big Ten honors.

The 6-foot-2, 210-pound safety had 53 total tackles with one sack and five interceptions last season. For his career, the 22-year-old had 13 interceptions, making him a desirable ball hawk that can make plays with the football in the air.

Drafting Nubin would give the Jets another valuable piece in a secondary that lost their interception leader.

Safety Jordan Whitehead signed a two-year deal with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in free agency. In 27 career games for the Jets he amassed 150 tackles and six interceptions. Whitehead led the Jets with four interceptions in 2023.

The Jets have four safeties on the roster entering the draft — Ashtyn Davis, Chuck Clark, Jarrick Bernard-Converse and Tony Adams.

Adams leads all returning Jets safeties with 84 tackles last season. Adams and Davis both had three interceptions.

At cornerback, the Jets have D.J. Reed, Tae Hayes, Sauce Gardner, Brandin Echols and Michael Carter II.

In free agency, the Jets addressed depth at cornerback by signing Isaiah Oliver to a one-year deal.

The NFL Draft is set to start on April 25 in Detroit.