2022 NFL draft: Jets stay patient, land pass rusher at No. 10 in Draft Wire 3-round mock
The 2022 NFL draft is just days away, which means the Jets are on the verge of adding an influx of young talent.
Free agency has gone a long way in shaping New York’s plans for this year’s draft. Joe Douglas has addressed needs on both sides of the ball and upgrading at certain positions is now far less pertinent than it was at the beginning of the offseason.
There is still plenty of work for Douglas to do, though, and the draft is the perfect time for the Jets to fill their remaining holes.
Draft Wire’s latest three-round mock draft has the Jets staying patient and landing an unexpected, but rising pass rusher with the No. 10 pick. Let’s take a closer look at that pick and Draft Wire’s other projections.
Round 1, Pick 4: Cincinnati CB Ahmad Gardner
AP Photo/Jeff Dean
Gardner gives the Jets an instant upgrade at cornerback. He’s an ideal fit in Jeff Ulbrich’s defense with his length and strength in zone coverage. Some might argue that it’s not worth taking a cornerback in the top five given Robert Saleh’s history of finding unheralded players at the position late in the draft and turning them into quality players, but there is plenty of value in selecting Gardner. Saleh knows what a big outside cornerback like the Cincinnati star can do for a defense.
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Round 1, Pick 10 (via SEA): Florida State EDGE Jermaine Johnson
AP Photo/Butch Dill
Johnson has a real chance to develop into one of, if not the, top pass rushers to come out of the 2022 draft. He was the definition of dominant in his lone season at Florida State, posting 70 tackles, 17.5 tackles for loss, 11.5 sacks and two forced fumbles. Johnson has the raw tools to give opposing offensive tackles trouble for years to come.
Round 2, Pick 35: Georgia S Lewis Cine
AP Photo/Butch Dill
Cine is one of the best candidates to address New York’s need on the back end of its secondary with his hard-hitting style of play and solid coverage skills. The Massachusetts native plays with an aggression that will appeal to Robert Saleh and Jeff Ulbrich. He would be a fit on and off the field from day one.
Round 2, Pick 38 (via CAR): North Dakota State WR Christian Watson
Syndication: Wilmington
Watson dominated FCS competition this past season, catching 43 passes for 800 yards and seven touchdowns. The 6-foot-5, 207-pound Watson never averaged less than 18 yards per catch in a season during his time at North Dakota State. He would give the Jets a legitimate deep threat and red zone target for Zach Wilson to work with.
Round 3, Pick 69: UCLA OT Sean Rhyan
Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports
Rhyan showcased his athleticism at the draft combine and is extremely quick off the ball. The drawback with the UCLA product is his lack of length — his arms measured at just 32 3/8″ — and that could land him on the inside at the next level. Rhyan has a case to stick on the outside, though, and he could be a mid-round target for the Jets.
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