Jets Draft Target: Could New York Pick Senior Bowl Standout Tackle Tyler Guyton?
With the No. 10 selection in the upcoming 2024 NFL Draft, the New York Jets are widely expected to pursue an impact player to rejuvenate their beleaguered offensive line.
Could they look to a rapidly rising prospect who stood out among his peers at this year’s Senior Bowl?
The Jets, per NFL.com, may have their eye on Oklahoma offensive tackle Tyler Guyton as a potential starting left tackle, should they choose to part ways with veteran Mekhi Becton.
2024 NFL Draft Prospect Tyler Guyton, OT, Oklahoma
Cred: Nathan J. Fish, The Oklahoman
Despite playing his first nine college football games at TCU, Guyton transferred to Oklahoma in 2022. He played in 10 games for the Sooners (making nine starts), while allowing zero sacks, three pressures and 12 quarterback hits at right tackle per Pro Football Focus. At 6-7, 328 pounds, Guyton’s impressive build and athleticism has made him a top-25 prospect on many big boards across the NFL Draft media landscape.
However, his impressive showing during Senior Bowl practices could land him the mix of players available and deserving of the No. 10 overall pick by the Jets in April's draft.
Having converted from defensive tackle, the massive lineman demonstrated impressive athleticism -- especially his explosiveness off the line -- during the event's three days of practice. While he primarily played right tackle at Oklahoma, Guyton possesses several traits necessary to successfully play on the left side as well.
Despite the team’s struggles at quarterback, a large portion of the blame pie for the Jets' anemic output in 2023 can be attributed to the porous nature of their offensive line. Ranking in the lower third of the NFL in nearly every measurable metric — including No. 30 overall by Pro Football Network — it should come as no surprise that New York may be eager to invest prime draft capital to repair a severely fractured unit.
In addition to his skills on the field, his willingness to play wherever he is most needed will make him a valuable commodity when New York is on the clock.
"I don't think of ‘change’ as hard. I think of it as a challenge,” Guyton told newyorkjets.com in Mobile earlier this week.
“I think challenges are fun," Guyton said. "You got to find joy. Switching over was fun for me. I thought of it as trying something new. Getting closer to my brothers on the O-Line made it really fun.
"They saw something I didn't see in myself yet, but I just thought I was a hybrid detector DT, which I am not. I am long and athletic. I have a different type of build. I don't have a gut. I can move a little bit. I like to learn, that's probably the biggest thing. I've been working on my hand placement which is getting better. There's a lot of things."
Guyton's stock rising puts him firmly in the first-round conversation, but the class' depth at the position will be sure to keep the Jets' options open.
