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NFL Mock Draft: Jets' Aaron Rodgers Gets Much-Needed Protection

In Sports Illustrated's latest NFL Mock Draft, quarterback Aaron Rodgers gets some help along the for the New York Jets offensive line.

The New York Jets hold the No. 10 overall pick in this year's NFL Draft, and they are going to need to make a huge impact with it.

Arguably, the Jets wouldn't be picking so high if Aaron Rodgers was healthy all season, so protecting him should be of paramount importance for New York.

In Sports Illustrated's latest mock draft, the Jets are slated to select Oregon State offensive tackle Taliese Fuaga.

Taliese Fuaga

"This offensive line needs a ton of help if the Jets want to avoid another serious injury to Aaron Rodgers next season," SI writes. "Fuaga was as dominant as any offensive tackle in the country last season, and he plays the game with a punishing style as both a pass protector and a run blocker."

There are several quality offensive tackles at the top of the draft, and Fuaga projects to be the third player at the position to come off the board. Penn State's Olu Fashanu and Notre Dame's Joe Alt are also considered to be top prospects, and either one of them falling to the Jets at No. 10 would be absolute gravy.

While it would be "sexy" to go out and get another receiver for Rodgers, he needs to be healthy enough to throw to whoever he already has. That may mean going with a name that isn't a household one, but one that could very well develop into a cornerstone for the Jets moving forward.