COLUMBUS, OHIO – NOVEMBER 20: Garrett Wilson #5 of the Ohio State Buckeyes plays against the Michigan State Spartans at Ohio Stadium on November 20, 2021, in Columbus, Ohio. (Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images)
The New York Jets have addressed some major needs during the offseason but they still have plenty of work to do in the NFL Draft.
A lot has changed since the last time we did a mock draft for the New York Jets. GM Joe Douglas filled a lot of holes in free agency, adding Laken Tomlinson, D.J. Reed, C.J. Uzomah and Tahir Whitehead to improve key areas of need.
The Jets were also poking around the Tyreek Hill market before getting rebuffed for the Miami Dolphins so there is a chance that New York pulls a big trade before the draft if it can find an impact wide receiver to help Zach Wilson reach the next level. Assuming all of the Jets’ picks stay put, here’s a look at how they can attack their remaining needs in the draft.
New York Jets Mock Draft – First Round
4
Kayvon Thibodeaux
DE Oregon
Douglas and head coach Robert Saleh recently met with the media and indicated that one of the best ways to defend against a $30 million receiver is to hit the quarterback. The Jets were also one of the heaviest bidders on Chandler Jones in free agency before the star pass rusher picked the Raiders, a good indicator that they will address their edge rush with this pick.
There are motivation questions with Thibodeaux, who has seen his stock slip from surefire top pick at the start of the season to potentially sliding out of the Top 10 entirely. New York will do plenty of homework on Thibodeaux but the talent he possesses is still elite, giving the Jets a shot at a dominant pass rush by pairing him with Carl Lawson.
10
Garrett Wilson
WR Ohio State
This pick could be shopped if the Jets want to entice a team looking for a quarterback to jump up to 10 but if New York stays put they can fill their need for an X-receiver here. Ohio State’s Wilson is the best wide receiver prospect in the draft thanks in large part to his elite speed.
Adding a true home-run hitter in Wilson to go along with Corey Davis, Elijah Moore and Braxton Berrios would give the Jets a wide variety of weapons to successfully run Mike LaFleur’s system. Investing in a wide receiver with the 10th pick makes a ton of sense.