Jets were dead-set on star RB in 2023 draft until he got swiped: ex-GM

The Jets’ love for Breece Hall might not be as deep as previously believed.While being interviewed at a 2025 NFL Draft live watching party with Fox Sports Radio, former Jets general manager Joe Douglas revealed that they were “dead set” on drafting Jahmyr Gibbs.“Two years ago, we had just made the trade for Aaron Rodgers,” Douglas said.

“In that trade, we flopped picks with Green Bay.We went from 13 to 15, and so we were absolutely dead-set, and I was prepared to take the heat at the time, but we were dead set on Jahmyr Gibbs.

We were taking Jahmyr Gibbs.”Douglas adds that he didn’t think anyone was going to take Gibbs until the 20s, but that was until the Lions chose to trade down to No.12 from No.

6 in the draft.That trade ended up being Cardinals offensive tackle Paris Johnson Jr.at No.

6 while the Lions made out like bandits, drafting Gibbs at No.12 and tight end Matt LaPorta at No.

34.Gibbs ran for 1,412 yards and 16 touchdowns for the Lions’ powerhouse offense last season.Oddly enough, the Jets had already had a star running back on the team when they were targeting Gibbs, as they invested a second-round draft pick into Hall the year before.

Gang Green drafted running back Israel Abanikanda in the fifth round, but he is no longer on the roster as he was waived in December and claimed by the 49ers.Hall has been embroiled in trade rumors as he enters the last year of his rookie deal.The Jets were all-in in 2023 when they traded for Rodgers as they hoped to contend for a Super Bowl.That season, of course, ended in misery as Rodgers tore his Achilles in the Jets’ opening drive in 2023.Gang Green struggled to a 7-10 record behind Zach Wilson.

Douglas had a similar mindset in 2024 when the Jets added receiver Davante Adams as they attempted to save their tanking season.The Jets ended 2024 with a 5-12 record, and Douglas was fired by owner Woody Johnson just six weeks after the Jets’ GM fired coach Robert Saleh....