It is now less than a week away from the 2022 NFL Draft, and things have changed quite a bit since the New York Jets Mock Draft 1.0. With free agency over, and the pre-draft rosters being rounded out, all eyes have been on the draft. What direction will each team go? Which direction will the Jets go? Here is a look at the New York Jets 5 Round Mock Draft 2.0.
Round 1, Pick 4: Kayvon Thibodeaux, EDGE, Oregon
Thibodeaux is a polarizing prospect who seems to be either the best player or the most overrated player in the draft depending on the day. He started off at the beginning of the 2021 season as the clear-cut #1 pick in the draft, but inconsistency on the field, as well as a number of injuries getting in the way of him playing has led to his draft stock falling. This, alongside Michigan edge defender Aiden Hutchinson’s meteoric rise to the top of the class, means Thibodeaux falls to the Jets at four.
This is a steal, as Thibodeaux has the potential to be an absolute game wrecker right off the bat, with an elite combo of speed and power. His signature move, the speed to power rush, has single handedly destroyed games, and it would be great for the Jets and their 32nd ranked defense.
With the new addition of Laken Tomlinson in Free Agency, the Jets no longer should be looking to take North Carolina State guard Ikem Ekwonu here, like they did in the New York Jets 5 Round Mock Draft 1.0.
Round 1, Pick 10: Drake London, WR, USC
London is another polarizing prospect, with some thinking his contested catch rates pointing to separation issues rather than jump ball ability, and others seeing Mike Evans 2.0. He is just under 6’4″, 220 pounds, and can catch a 50/50 ball with his eyes closed. Furthermore, he fits in perfectly with what the Jets want and need at the receiver position. He can get open underneath, and he can go over the top.
While someone like Ohio State’s Garrett Wilson might be a better receiver, he isn’t exactly what the Jets should be looking for, so London is the pick. He adds another weapon for quarterback Zach Wilson, who now would have London, Elijah Moore, Corey Davis, C.J. Uzomah, and Tyler Conklin to throw the ball to. Quite the upgrade from any receiving core during the Sam Darnold era.
This pick remains the same from the 5 Round Mock Draft 1.0
Round 2, Pick 35: Roger McCreary, CB, Auburn
McCreary is a dynamic, playmaking defensive back from Auburn who can play inside or outside depending on the day. He has great ball skills, something the Jets have been lacking at the defensive back position since the days of Darrelle Revis and Antonio Cromartie, and he would be a great influx of pure talent to the Jets secondary.
With the addition of D.J. Reed in Free Agency, McCreary would probably be a depth piece to begin the season, with the potential to move inside to the slot instead of Michael Carter II, or outside in front of Bryce Hall. Fans have gotten attached to both players, but it is important to remember that this defense ranked dead last in the NFL in 2021.
While McCreary needs to add some strength, he should be able to hold his own due to his competitive nature, and spending time in an NFL weight room will do wonders for him. The Jets bolster their secondary early in the second round.
This pick has changed with the additions of Conklin and Uzomah in Free Agency, with the Jets selecting tight end Trey McBride from Colorado State here in the 5 Round Mock Draft 1.0.
Round 2, Pick 38: Tyler Smith, OT, Tulsa
Smith was a guy that featured in the fifth round of the Jets 5 Round Mock Draft 1.0, but throughout the draft process, he has been talked about more and more as a top end guy. There are always players that rise during the months leading up to the draft, and Smith is one of those players.
As a reminder, Smith is incredibly raw, but his pure strength and quickness, especially at 325 pounds, is impressive. His ceiling is very high, and as a depth piece for this new and improved offensive line, he would have plenty of time to work on his technique under an NFL coaching staff. Smith has only played offensive lineman for five years, and he can end up being one of the best offensive lineman in the draft.
This pick has changed from Penn State edge defender Arnold Ebiketie, as the Jets would now have picked up Thibodeaux to play opposite Carl Lawson.
Round 3, Pick 69: Chad Muma, LB, Wyoming
Also considered here was safety Nick Cross from Maryland, as well as safety Bryan Cook from Cincinnati. The Jets have potentially the biggest hole on their roster at Linebacker, surprisingly. Outside of C.J. Mosley and Quincy Williams, the Jets don’t have even an average quality linebacker on the roster. Blake Cashman was serviceable when he was on the field, which was not often, but he was dealt to the Houston Texans for a sixth round pick.
Muma is a tackle machine, averaging over 11 tackles per game in 2021, and he has the athleticism to compete as an NFL linebacker. He also has above average coverage skills, accumulating in three interceptions in 2021. Muma would figure to slot into a starting role immediately, with his lowest possible floor is an impact special teamer.
This pick was originally Baylor defensive back Jalen Pitre, but with D.J. Reed coming in Free Agency and Roger McCreary being taken at pick 35, they no longer need to take another defensive back.
Round 4, Pick 111: Dameon Pierce, RB, Florida
Dameon Pierce is a player who has gotten a lot of attention, and it wouldn’t be a surprise if he went a lot earlier than this. He has been gaining a lot of traction on Twitter for plays like this, and it would add a lot of protection for Wilson. Michael Carter is not the greatest pass blocker in the world, so that would be a great addition in terms of filling that role.
Outside of his pass blocking ability, Pierce is built like a tank, with an extremely thick lower half. He runs like a bowling ball, and it should translate to a better performance in the NFL than we have seen from him at the college level. It also would add another talented back to their rotation, alongside Carter and Tevin Coleman.
This pick has changed from Kerby Joseph, a safety from Illinois, as the Jets might be scared about a team like the Atlanta Falcons swooping in to take Pierce at Pick 114.
Round 4, Pick 117: Kerby Joseph, S, Illinois
Joseph is once again taken by the Jets in the fourth round of this mock, as they still need safety depth. Outside of Jordan Whitehead, Ashtyn Davis, and Lamarcus Joyner, the Jets really have no depth at the position. Joseph will be a nice development player, a guy who has great sideline to sideline speed but must improve his tackling ability.
Furthermore, Joseph might be a factor on special teams, which is also a facet of the game the Jets lack in. Joseph has the upside, but expectations shouldn’t be extremely high.
This pick, believe it or not, was originally Dameon Pierce, who the Jets have now selected at pick 111.
Round 5, Pick 146: Daniel Bellinger, TE, SDSU
Bellinger was a three year starter at San Diego State, but in those three years, he only accumulated 767 yards. While those numbers are not indicative of being a potential NFL player, his physicals are impressive for the position. He needs to work on his route running, as well as his power when blocking, but he has the physical tools to develop into a nice backup.
The Jets did pick up Uzomah and Conklin in Free Agency, but outside of them, the Jets have no depth at all at the position. Bellinger would be the perfect project behind the two-headed monster they now employ.
This pick was originally Memphis receiver Calvin Austin III, but his draft stock has improved immensely since the 5 Round Mock Draft 1.0, so he will likely not be here come the Draft.
Round 5, Pick 163: Thomas Booker, IDL, Stanford
Booker is a player with all the intangibles in the world. A finalist for the William V. Campbell Trophy, the academic Heisman, he clearly has the intelligence. On top of that, he has a great body type for the position, very wide and strong. He is strong, but he needs to work on how to come back from being shut down at the start of plays, because if he doesn’t win right away, he gets completely taken out of the play.
Booker can come in and play as a rotational guy behind players such as Quinnen Williams, John Franklin-Myers, Sheldon Rankins, and Soloman Thomas.
To sum up, the Jets would, in this draft, have selected a good mix of players at positional needs and best player available. Thibodeaux and London in Round 1 are great talents to add to the squad, and guys like Chad Muma, Tyler Smith, and Roger McCreary are players that can start and excel right away or down the line with some good coaching. This was the New York Jets 5 Round Mock Draft 2.0.