The 2022 NFL Draft rumor mill is in full swing with the big night just days away. While teams are certainly posturing to send up smoke screens ahead of the NFL Draft, some actual intentions can be gleaned by reading the tea leaves that are NFL rumors. We’re going to combine our expert consensus first-round mock NFL Draft, the latest picks from our NFL analysts, our team needs for each NFL squad, and the latest NFL rumors to try to determine what teams will do during the 2022 NFL Draft. Below, we’ll check and see if the Jets will snag a wide receiver with one of their two first-round picks.
- Eagles Draft Rumors: Chris Olave, Drake London, Jameson Williams
- Steelers Draft Rumors: Malik Willis, Desmond Ridder, Kenny Pickett
- Commanders Draft Rumors: Garrett Wilson, Chris Olave, Jameson Williams
- Vikings Draft Rumors: Garrett Wilson, Drake London
2022 NFL Draft Team Needs
Andrew Erickson shares team needs for all 32 teams ahead of the 2022 NFL Draft. He has the following for the Jets:
- Team Needs: WR, CB, EDGE, OL, DT
Latest 2022 NFL Draft Rumors
Marco Pavoloni (@MAPavoloni) of The Rumor Mill Mock Draft provides the latest in the world of 2022 NFL Draft rumors.
The Jets’ need at Wide Receiver has overshadowed just about every other position.
On 4/15, Albert Breer wrote:
“If they stick here, I could see the Jets catching a falling Gardner or Thibodeaux, or maybe even Stingley. Absent that, I think this a spot where help could come for Zach Wilson, if all the receivers are sitting there for the Jets. In this scenario, they are, and this is the range where both USC’s Drake London and Ohio State’s Garrett Wilson are pegged to be in play (and maybe Alabama’s Jameson Williams, too, based on teams’ comfort level with his ACL).”
Connor Hughes seems to agree, stating, “They’re not drafting a cornerback at No. 4 or 10.”
Along the same lines, Hughes believes that:
“unless the Jets manage to trade for a WR (which seems less and less likely by the day) they will address the position with this pick. Wilson’s run after the catch ability makes him a perfect fit in Mike LaFleur’s offense.”
So which receiver would they take in this scenario?
On 4/18, Rich Cimini noted that the Jets are keen on Jameson Williams, since he “would be similar to a Tyreek Hill type.”
On 4/19, DJ Bien Aime writes:
“One polarizing option is Alabama’s Jameson Williams with the No. 10 overall pick.Team sources love Williams because he would add an explosiveness to the offense that was missing last year.”
Whether or not the Jets pull the trigger on Williams, this feels like a safe spot for the first or second receiver to come off the board.
What about Drake London and Garrett Wilson?
On 4/27, Paul Andrew Esden, Jr. mentioned “NYJ as a logical landing spot for Drake London if they’re unable to land Deebo Samuel.”
He’s not the only one who has linked London to the Jets.
On 4/24, Daniel Jeremiah mentioned that he would be surprised if Drake London is still there at 10th overall, implying that the Falcons were likely to take him. He also mentioned that the Jets would likely run in the card if London were to fall to them.
Does that mean they would take him over Jameson Williams? I’m not sure, but the buzz is certainly there.
Garrett Wilson has visited the Jets this offseason and is definitely on the table.
On 4/25, Matt Miller tweeted:
“It’s definitely being talked about a ton behind the scenes today.
But…do the Jets use No. 10 on a WR (Garrett Wilson) or trade it for one?”
It feels like draft media is torn on a few things:
- Which WRs will be available for the Jets when they pick at 10?
- Would the Jets even take a WR over, say, a falling Jermaine Johnson?
- If the Jets are set on a receiver at 10, which one of the above three would they draft?
I think there’s a solid chance the pick at 10 will be a receiver. Just don’t ask me which one.
Consensus First-Round NFL Mock Draft
Our consensus mock draft does have the Jets selecting a wide receiver in the first round. The experts think Garrett Wilson lands in New York with the team’s No. 10 overall pick.
Our analysts are split on this one. Both have gone back and forth in their mocks handing the Jets a wide receiver with their second first-round pick, No. 10 overall. One analyst carried that through with their final predictions, but another did not.
Freedman’s final mock draft:
10. New York Jets: Jermaine Johnson (EDGE – Florida State)
Jets beat writer Connor Hughes mocked Johnson to the Jets at No. 4 this week, and buzz has been growing across the industry about how much GM Joe Douglas likes Johnson’s rare combination of size (6-5 and 254 pounds) and speed (4.58-second 40-yard dash).
The redshirt senior has had a long and winding journey to the NFL, but the Last Chance U alumnus put up 16.5 sacks in 19 games in his two final seasons (Georgia and Florida State), and he won ACC Defensive Player of the Year in 2021.
Johnson has the talent to be an instant NFL contributor.
I’m tempted to mock a receiver here, but the value Johnson provides at No. 10 to an organization that might take him in the top five is too great to ignore.
10. New York Jets: Jameson Williams (WR – Alabama)
It’s going to be a wide receiver, just a matter of which one the Jets take. And based on Gang Green’s aggressive bidding on Tyreek Hill this offseason, I’d say they desire speed more than anything else.
Jameson Williams can deliver that same type of game-breaking speed to help Zach Wilson grow dramatically in Year 2.
FantasyPros Mock Drafts
Andrew Erickson:
- Andrew Erickson’s 2022 NFL Mock Draft 1.0
- Andrew Erickson’s 2022 NFL Mock Draft 2.0
- Andrew Erickson’s 2022 NFL Mock Draft 3.0
- Andrew Erickson’s 2022 NFL Mock Draft 4.0
- Andrew Erickson’s 2022 NFL Mock Draft 5.0
- Andrew Erickson’s 2022 NFL Mock Draft 6.0
Matthew Freedman:
- Version 1: Post-free agency
- Version 2: Post-Eagles & Saints trade
- Version 3: Mid-April
- Version 4: 10 days away
- Version 5: Seven days away
- Version 6: Week of the Draft
- Version 7: Day Before the Draft
Derek Brown:
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