The New York Jets are blessed with draft capital early on in the 2022 NFL Draft, and with a plethora of needs on the roster, they can't afford to miss with their first-round picks. The Jets will be drafting at picks No. 4 and No. 10 in the first round, so they'll have plenty of options to choose from. With the chance to add one of the best players in the class to the roster with the fourth overall pick, the Jets have been hard at work honing in on potential targets.
There are obvious needs for the Jets on both sides of the ball. On one hand, surrounding Zach Wilson with as much talent and protection as possible needs to be a priority for the franchise, but there's a chance the Jets wait until pick No. 10 to address the offense and look to add a defensive game-changer at No. 4 instead.
With all that in mind, here are the three best players the Jets can snag at pick No. 4 in the 2022 NFL Draft.
3 best players Jets can select with 4th pick in 2022 NFL Draft
3. Drake London, WR – USC
The Jets missed out on Tyreek Hill this offseason, but that doesn't mean they're not still seeking an upgrade at wide receiver. Adding a player like Drake London, who has soared up draft boards in recent weeks, would be an instant improvement at the position, and would provide Zach Wilson with a tantalizing young new weapon, who perfectly fits the rebuilding timeline. Last year at USC, London caught 88 passes for 1,084 yards and 7 touchdowns. While there's a chance London would be available with the 10th pick, the Jets may not want to miss out on a potential star and may opt to select him with the 4th overall pick.
Of course, going with a wide receiver fourth overall would be a significant risk, especially with the amount of talented defensive players that will be available with that selection. Still, wideout is a clear need for the Jets, and pairing London with Elijah Moore would be a very intriguing tandem for Zach Wilson to fire to.
2. Sauce Gardner, CB – Cincinnati
Sauce Gardner has gained a ton of hype during draft season, and it makes a lot of sense why. The Jets have a clear need at cornerback, and using the No. 4 pick to select the best defensive back in the class would be a wise decision from the front office. Gardner is widely expected to be the first defensive back taken off the board, and with the Jets lacking a dominant CB1, he could be a great fit alongside the recently signed DJ Reed.
Gardner featured in 13 games for Cincinnati last season, recording 3 interceptions, 4 pass defenses, 3.0 sacks, and 5 tackles for loss. He'd be a picture-perfect fit for Robert Saleh's defensive scheme, and the Jets would be wise to lock him up at No. 4 overall.
1. Evan Neal, OT – Alabama
If the Jets want to get the best offensive line they possibly can in order to protect Zach Wilson, Evan Neal is the obvious choice. While NC State's Ikem Ekwonu may be seen as a better fit on the Jets' O-line, Neal has been regarded as the best offensive lineman in the draft class, and it'd be a shock to see the Jets let him slip past them at No. 4, if he's even available then. Adding a player of Neal's caliber to the offensive line would be a huge move towards the development of Wilson, and the team would be able to potentially snag a top-tier wide receiver or defensive back with the 10th pick.
This all banks on Neal dropping to the Jets at No. 4. The offensive lineman has been linked to virtually every team picking in the top of the draft, and some mock drafts have him as the No. 1 overall pick, though Aidan Hutchinson has been making a push for that title of late. If Neal is available with the 4th overall pick, the Jets would be getting a bargain, and maybe the single best player in the class of 2022.
Follow Us
Subscribe