The New York Jets had the best draft of any team in the NFL, improving their young core vastly. New York had a surplus of draft picks, which they used well to find foundation-building pieces for their franchise.
The Jets had three picks in the first round, which they used to select cornerback Ahmad “Sauce” Gardner, wide receiver Garrett Wilson, and edge rusher Jermaine Johnson.
These selections give them three potential stars at important positions. Gardner will be a great addition to a secondary that needs to improve. Wilson will be an elite target for second-year quarterback Zach Wilson, who struggled in his rookie campaign.
Johnson will be a cornerstone edge rusher, which will be beneficial, as they could use improvement in their pass rush. Head coach Robert Saleh thrived as the defensive coordinator of the San Francisco 49ers with an elite pass rush. Johnson could be a part of building that for New York due to his great talent.
While the first-round picks are what people turn to, the Jets had a solid draft all around. With that said, here is the Jets' best rookie sleeper to make an impact for the 2022 NFL season.
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Jets Rookie Sleeper for 2022 NFL Season
Running Back Breece Hall
Although Breece Hall was a second-round pick, he has still gone under the radar. This is likely because he was their fourth selection of the draft, and fans tend to gravitate more to the first-rounders.
Breece Hall was the best running back in the class, and New York traded up to select him in the second round. Hall is primed to add another dynamic to the offense and help the Jets become a solid offense.
Last season in college, Hall rushed 253 times for 1,472 yards and 20 touchdowns. He also made an impact in the receiving game with 36 receptions for 302 yards and three touchdowns.
Hall has great speed and is a threat to score whenever he gets the ball. He will be a good complement to running back Michael Carter, who New York selected in last year's draft.
Hall commented about his partner in the backfield, saying, “I think I can come in and complement him really well, and I can't wait to get in there and learn from him, for me to ask him questions whenever I need to and for him to teach me the ins and outs of being a running back for the Jets.”
Hall has proven that he can take on a high volume of carries, which is something some rookies struggle with. He is also great at recognizing which lane to go through, which is a great trait to have as a young running back.
Having a legitimate one-two punch at running back with Carter and Hall will help take the pressure off of their young QB. In his rookie campaign, Wilson threw for 2,334 yards, nine touchdowns, and 11 interceptions. His completion percentage was atrocious at 55.6 percent.
Wilson was trying to make something out of nothing too often instead of throwing the ball away or taking a sack. This led to a lot of turnovers and an occasional great play downfield. With an improved offensive line and better weapons around him, Wilson should be able to take a jump in his second season.
Hall's impact will be important in Wilson's development, as good teams often have two solid running backs.
The Jets nailed this draft, and for the first time in a while, their future looks bright.
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