First-round strategies in 2022 NFL Draft for AFC teams
New York Jets (Picks #4 & #10)
The Jets are looking at corner, pass rusher, wide receiver, and O-line for this first round.
I say they take the best player in this entire class in Sauce Gardner at #4 and force competition between him, Bryce Hall, and DJ Reed. The more good players in the secondary, the better as far as I’m concerned. Especially if one of those players is as elite as Sauce is.
Pick no. 10 could be an interesting spot if the Jets are looking to trade for Deebo Samuel and fill their wide receiver needs. But if they decide to keep it, I’m very much down with a wide receiver pick at this point.
Garrett Wilson and Jameson Williams create the most separation of any receivers in this class. Treylon Burks fills a lot of that Deebo Samuel mold if that’s really what the Jets are looking for. Drake London catches a ton of passes in traffic; I know Zach Wilson loves him some 50/50 balls.
I would not go O-line. As good as Evan Neal and Ickey Ekwonu are, I just feel the Jet O-line is in a really good spot right now, and messing up that chemistry formation could be an issue. Regardless of Mekhi Becton being a big question mark.