Major players in the 2022 NFL Draft, the New York Jets will affect nearly every other team’s draft plans come April. With two selections inside the top 10 picks, the Jets are in prime position to improve in 2021. They’ll also likely be able to build around franchise QB Zach Wilson. With a ton of draft capital, here’s the most recent 2022 7-round mock draft for the Jets with the most up-to-date NFL draft order.
New York Jets 7-Round NFL Mock Draft
The Jets currently own nine picks. Each of those picks is within the first 162 selections. Below is a 7-round mock draft haul by the Jets with alternative options at each pick.
Round 1, Pick 4: Andrew Booth Jr., CB, Clemson
This is when the draft will take an interesting turn. Odds are, Jacksonville, Detroit, and Houston take one of a handful of players that isn’t a cornerback. That means New York should have their pick of the top cornerback on their board. Using the PFN Mock Draft Simulator, Clemson CB Andrew Booth Jr. is the pick here.
Booth is just scratching the surface of his talent and came on strong down the stretch. He’s got terrific ball skills and innate football intelligence. He can jump through the ceiling and complements that athleticism with sticky coverage skills. He’ll backpedal with quick feet and turn even faster with hips on a swivel. Booth is a vital addition to head coach Robert Saleh’s defense.
Other alternatives at No. 4: Derek Stingley Jr., CB, LSU; Kaiir Elam, CB, Florida; Ahmad Gardner, CB, Cincinnati
Round 1, Pick 10: Garrett Wilson, WR, Ohio State
Here’s another spot in the 2022 NFL Draft where the Jets could take the top player at his respective position. The seven teams selecting ahead of New York have bigger holes than wide receiver. So the Jets should have their choice of the top pass-catching options in the 2022 NFL Draft. Securing the top receiver and top defensive back on their board is certainly appealing.
Grabbing Garrett Wilson from Ohio State makes that feat even more impressive. Wilson is an elite route runner with sure hands. He’s a dominant athlete at the catch point and presents a problem after the catch. Wilson is as talented as they come in this class.
Other alternatives at No. 10: Chris Olave, WR, Ohio State; Jameson Williams, WR, Alabama; Treylon Burks, WR, Ohio State
Round 2, Pick 35: Jalen Wydermyer, TE, Texas A&M
Yet again, another top player at his position can land with the Jets. It’s unlikely any tight ends are drafted in the first round. Despite the position being a big need for New York, they have the luxury of waiting until their first pick on Day 2.
Jalen Wydermyer will be a big-bodied, yards-after-the-catch threat for the Jets. He’s great in all facets of the game, and the ability to utilize him as a three-down tight end makes him worth the draft capital investment.
We could also see the Jets take a liking to Coastal Carolina TE Isaiah Likely since Saleh and Co. will be in Mobile for the Senior Bowl. Either way, grabbing the draft’s top cornerback, wide receiver, and now tight end would be an impressive haul.
Other alternative at No. 35: Trey McBride, TE, Colorado State
Round 2, Pick 38: Lewis Cine, S, Georgia
The Jets have a few issues in the secondary that just one selection will not rectify. They’ll need to fix a hole at safety, and given how the class will potentially shake out, New York can land a top-flight defensive back with either of their second-round picks.
Lewis Cine heads to the Big Apple after putting forth his finest performance in his final collegiate outing. Cine was the defensive MVP of the national championship game against Alabama, routinely making highlight-reel plays look just that: routine. Cine’s a hard-hitter with keen instincts. He’ll thump you in the run game as he moves downhill incredibly well. He also possesses great coverage skills to boot.
Other alternatives at No. 38: Leon O’Neal Jr., S, Texas A&M; Jordan Battle, S, Alabama; Brandon Smith, LB, Penn State
Round 3, Pick 69: Quay Walker, LB, Georgia
A ferocious linebacker with positional versatility, Quay Walker heads to the Jets with their first pick of Round 3. Walker presents a mismatch whether he’s blitzing, patrolling the middle of the field against the run, or playing in coverage. A do-it-all linebacker with great upside, Walker was just one of the key cogs on Georgia’s national championship defense.
Other alternatives at No. 69: Boye Mafe, EDGE, Minnesota; Christian Harris, LB, Alabama; Henry To’o To’o, LB, Alabama
Round 4, Pick 108: Cameron Thomas, EDGE, San Diego State
If Cameron Thomas lasts until the fourth round, expect Saleh to run to the podium himself to deliver the pick. With as stacked as an edge class that we’ve seen, Thomas could fall. He’s a big man on the outside with an even bigger motor. Sure, the Jets will get Carl Lawson back in 2022, but in today’s NFL, you can never have too many talented edge rushers.
Other alternatives at No. 108: Nolan Smith, EDGE, Georgia; Damone Clark, LB, LSU; Channing Tindall, LB, Georgia
Round 4, Pick 114: Mykael Wright, CB, Oregon
Before you ask, the answer is yes: you want as many good cornerbacks on your team as possible. The Jets grabbed the first cornerback off the board in Round 1 and now the first one off the board in Round 4. Mykael Wright has great speed and even better instincts. What separates Wright from the majority of the other Day 3 cornerbacks is the fact that he’ll be NFL-ready after producing in Oregon’s talent-laden defensive back room.
Other alternatives at No. 114: Alontae Taylor, CB, Tennessee; Jalyn Armour-Davis, CB, Alabama; Tariq Woolen, CB, UTSA
Round 5, Pick 145: Tykee Smith, S, Georgia
Another addition to an emerging, youthful secondary, Tykee Smith can play a variety of roles in Saleh’s defense. Whether it’s nickel cornerback, in the box as a strong safety, or at free safety, Smith has done it all. Through his career at West Virginia and at Georgia, Smith was a difference-maker on the field.
Other alternatives at No. 145: Isaiah Pola-Mao, S, USC; Kenderick Duncan, S, Louisville
Round 5, Pick 162: Charleston Rambo, WR, Miami (FL)
The “build around Wilson” mantra continues with the Jets’ final pick of the 2022 NFL Draft. Charleston Rambo is a vertical threat with crisp routes and a penchant for highlight-reel catches. Rambo may not wow with his athleticism, but his play on the field more than makes up for any discrepancies across his game. Rambo is no stranger to high-pointing the football over defenders.
Other alternatives at No. 162: Dontario Drummond, WR, Ole Miss; Kyle Philips, WR, UCLA; Bo Melton, WR, Rutgers