The 2022 NFL Draft begins on April 28, which means that The Game Haus will be debuting draft profiles for every team. Each NFL team will be evaluated heading into this year’s draft, as our staff recaps their last season, highlights their needs and pinpoints their potential 2022 NFL Draft targets. The New York Jets are the subject of today’s 2022 NFL Draft profile.
Summary
The New York Jets made yet another coaching staff change prior to the 2021 NFL season, this time bringing in the likes of Robert Saleh as head coach, Mike LaFleur as offensive coordinator, and Jeff Ulbrich as defensive coordinator. They drafted Zach Wilson as well, and while he struggled to get it going in the first half of the season, he really turned it around from the Houston Texans game in week 12 onward.
The team finished the season with a measly 4-13 record, but there was enough improvement over the course of the season, coupled with some heroic rookie performances, to be hopeful for the 2022 season. Rookies like Michael Carter, Elijah Moore, and Alijah Vera-Tucker looked like long-term solutions to their respective positions in this offense.
During this offseason, the Jets brought in free agents like Laken Tomlinson, D.J. Reed, and C.J. Uzomah, to name a few, filling almost every big hole on the roster. With a number of high draft picks, they now look to be in a good position to add some top level talent without having to focus on positional value.
2022 Draft Picks
In the first three rounds, the Jets have five picks.
First Round (two picks): Nos. 4, 10
Second Round (two picks): Nos. 35, 38
Third Round (one pick): No. 69
Team Needs
Wide Receiver – The Jets, despite all the movement that has happened in free agency, are still without a top level receiver. Elijah Moore looks like he has the potential to become an elite player, but outside of him, there is Corey Davis and then quite the drop off.
Edge Rusher – As is the case every year, the Jets had a bit of trouble getting to the quarterback from the edge last year. The team brought in Carl Lawson to be part of the solution in 2021, but a preseason injury saw him miss the entirety of the season. They desperately need some high level talent.
Defensive Back – In 2021, the Jets started and ended the season with Bryce Hall and Brandin Echols as the starting outside cornerbacks. Both of these players could be seen as high upside CB3 type players, with free agent acquisition Reed as the current CB1 on the roster.
Linebacker – Many fans may not see this as a need, but the Jets should not go into the 2022 season with only C.J. Mosley and Quincy Williams. Mosley is still a great player, and Williams was a great addition for the short term, but both could be off the roster in 2023. There needs to be some sort of long-term plan here.
2022 Draft Targets
First Round:
Pick No. 4: Kayvon Thibodeaux, EDGE, Oregon
Thibodeaux is not long removed from being the clear-cut top pick in the 2022 NFL Draft. However, in recent months, the feeling around him as a player has changed. He is a player that should still go top five, but with the three teams ahead of the Jets with other needs, Thibodeaux could very easily fall to them at four.
The Jets desperately need guys who can get to the quarterback, and that is just what Thibodeaux does. In his college career, he finished with 22 sacks, and according to PFF, he had a two week stretch in 2021 where he had 19 pressures against Cal and UCLA.
If Thibodeaux is not there at number four, there is another direction they can go, and that would be defensive back. There are a number of guys at the top of the class that could come in and start from day one, namely Cincinnati’s Ahmad Gardner and LSU’s Derek Stingley Jr.
Pick No. 10: Garrett Wilson, WR, Ohio State
Wilson had an incredible career at Ohio State for three seasons, and is a former 5-star recruit out of Texas. He has played high level football his entire life, and he has always been elite player at every level. He would be a great addition, just in terms of raw talent.
In his final season as a Buckeye, he averaged 15.1 yards per reception, with 70 receptions on 102 targets. He had over 1,000 yards receiving, to go along with 12 touchdowns. He is a naturally smooth player, with good hands and, for lack of a better word, smooth route running. It looks like he is floating out there sometimes.
Second Round:
Pick No. 35: Jalen Pitre, CB, Baylor
Pitre was a revelation this season at Baylor in the slot. In 2021, opposing quarterbacks had a mere 55.2 passer rating when targeting him, and he allowed zero touchdowns while also having two interceptions. Drafting Pitre here at No. 35 would not only add a lot of talent to one of the least talented position groups on the roster, but it would likely mean they add a starter from day one.
Michael Carter II was a surprise this season, playing above expectations for a lot of the season. However, he did get exposed multiple times and his ceiling simply isn’t as high as Pitre’s. Furthermore, in today’s NFL, teams can never have too many cornerbacks.
Pick No. 38: Chad Muma, LB, Wyoming
This might be a bit of a reach at No. 38, but Muma was a versatile and talented player on Wyoming’s defense in 2021. Playing 899 snaps on defense for the Cowboys, Muma lined up in the slot on 88 snaps, just under seven snaps per game. A guy of his stature (6’3″), who can play in the slot if needed, would be huge for the Jets defense that ranked 32nd in total defense in 2021.
Muma can also line up down on the defensive line, but he wouldn’t really be doing that much in the Jets defensive scheme. He can cover in space well thanks to his athleticism and he doesn’t get caught in the wash in run defense. He would be a great addition to any defense, especially the Jets.
Third Round:
Pick No. 69: Tyler Smith, OT, Tulsa
Smith was an under-the-radar player at Tulsa, but he has legit talent, and teams are all over him. He could very well be gone at this point, but if he isn’t the Jets need to be all over him. It looks like they already have two starting tackles, but offensive line depth is super important.
When you consider that Mekhi Becton sat out for the entirety of the 2021 season, it makes sense for the Jets to bring in some form of insurance policy. Conor McDermott was brought back for another season, but he should be on the field as little as possible.
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