Breaking down 5 Jets needs heading into 2022 NFL Draft

The Jets had a long list of needs as they headed into this offseason. The beauty of what they did in free agency is that they systematically checked off almost every single one.

They needed a starting guard, help at tight end, reinforcements in their secondary, and they got all of it, adding good, young players without spending too much money. And while they still have a few obvious needs, their free agent haul has given them a sense of freedom heading into the NFL Draft.

“Absolutely,” Jets GM Joe Douglas said. “I think part of the goal of any free agency is going into a draft without any huge perceived holes to give teams a target of, ‘OK, they’re definitely going for this position. They don’t have a starter here.’”

That does allow the Jets, as Douglas said, some “flexibility” in the draft. But that doesn’t mean they don’t still have needs to fill – some of which they almost certainly will still address perhaps as early as Round 1.

Here’s a look at five of the remaining needs for the Jets, how urgent they are, and how and when they might address them:

Wide Receiver

Douglas has made it very clear, both in words and actions, that he’s looking for more weapons for QB Zach Wilson. Specifically, he’d like a No. 1 receiver, which is why he nearly traded for Tyreek Hill and looked into Calvin Ridley and Amari Cooper. Ideally, he’d add a proven veteran, but there’s no guarantees that one will become available. And he can’t just sit around and pine for D.K. Metcalf or A.J. Brown.

The good news is this draft is loaded with fast, talented receivers. Maybe there’s no JaMarr Chase sitting at the top, but there’s still some good ones who could be available at pick No. 10 – like big Drake London, explosive Garrett Wilson, or the recovering Jameson Williams, who when healthy might be the best of them all.

It’s really impossible to imagine the Jets not taking a receiver early. The only question is do they do it in the first round, or wait until the second. Receivers tend to drop in drafts, especially when there’s a glut of them. So there could be some really good ones at the top of Round 2 for the Jets, like Penn State’s Jahan Dotson, Georgia’s George Pickens, Cincinnati’s Alec Pierce and more.

Edge Rusher

As Douglas discussed his priorities while at the NFL owners meetings a few weeks ago he was very clear about the Jets’ need to develop a pass rush. He spoke of a defensive philosophy that is, “hit the quarterback, hit him early, hit him often.” And he knows he needs players to do that. It’s why he made a bit of run at signing free agent Chandler Jones.

Now, Douglas sounds like a man thinking strongly about using one of his two top 10 picks on a pass rusher. And that’s a good bet. Although, Jets head coach Robert Saleh had already spoken about how there’s no “Nick Bosa” or “Chase Young” among the pass rushers in this draft. He even talked up the value they could find at that position in the second round.

So it might depend on who is available when they pick. It’s possible the first three picks could be edge rushers – Michigan’s Aidan Hutchinson, Oregon’s Kayvon Thibodeaux and Georgia’s Travon Walker. It’s hard to see the Jets taking the fourth at No. 4. They could grab Florida State’s Jermaine Johnson at 10, or they could wait on someone like Minnesota’s Boye Mafe or Penn State’s Arnold Ebiketie in Round 2.

Safety

Their safety situation was bad last season, but it’s already a little better with the free agent signing of Jordan Whitehead and the re-signing of Lamarcus Joyner. But as they wait for Ashtyn Davis to develop, that really isn’t enough. That’s why they’ve seemed enticed by the “unicorn” – Notre Dame safety Kyle Hamilton. It’s still hard to see them picking a safety with the fourth overall pick, but no one will rule it out.

Much more likely is a second- or third-rounder. They’d have to consider Georgia’s Lewis Cine or Penn State’s Jaquan Brisker at the top of Round 2, because the class does thin out a bit after that.

Running Back

They don’t need a starter here because they love what they got last year in Michael Carter. And they believe Tevin Coleman, if he can ever stay healthy, is a nice complementary back. But this offense will always be a running back by committee, which means they need more. And it would really help if they could get a bigger, tough back who can take the pounding of the short-yardage and inside runs.

Clearly they’re not going to use a first-round pick on this spot. There aren’t many worthy of their two picks at the top of Round 2, though Iowa State’s Breece Hall could get some consideration with one of them. In the third round, though, there could be several worth taking, including Georgia’s James Cook, Florida’s Dameon Pierce, and Texas A&M’s Isaiah Spiller.

Center

Douglas has done a nice job of adding talent all along his offensive line and even building depth at every position – except for one. And they really need to find a young center to play behind Connor McGovern, the starting center whose contract expires at the end of this season.

Because this is really a pick for 2023, it’s not a priority and not even likely to be a second-day selection unless someone unexpected falls into their lap. More likely they’ll wait until the fourth round and see if they can still get someone like Kentucky’s Luke Fortner or Nebraska’s Cameron Jurgens. Boston College’s Alec Lindstrom could be a possibility in the later rounds, too.