The New York Jets’ decision to pass on a wide receiver in the first round of the 2023 NFL Draft was one of those decisions that felt highly questionable in the moment. Now, with the 2025 season nearing its conclusion, it stands out as one of the most objectively damaging draft-day mistakes this franchise has made in years.
That's not hyperbole, either.
The Jets made the highly controversial decision to select Iowa State pass rusher Will McDonald at No. 15 overall back in 2023, passing on Ohio State star Jaxon Smith-Njigba, who went five picks later to Seattle.