A Second Stab At A Jets Mock Draft
Mock drafts are like predicting what someone is going to have for dinner when, A) you don’t have a clue as to what that person finds appetizing, and B) you can only guess what restaurant choices are available to that person.
We can run mock draft simulations, but they’re going to vary widely. For example, when I was going through my first Jets mock nearly a month-and-a-half ago, I knew then that Washington cornerback Trent McDuffie was a first-round talent, yet the simulators I used that day allowed me to scoop him up with New York’s No. 35 overall selection in the second round. The pick was a no-brainer--and a no-chance-of-happening.
For my 2.0 version below, I used a database constructed by my son Jack where he aggregated 12 of the most widely-used mock draft experts to come up with a 2022 NFL Draft Consensus Big Board (NFL Consensus Big Board (jacklich10.xyz)). Just like any simulator, it can’t be relied upon to guarantee who will be available at any such point in the Draft and there will always be risers and fallers during the day, but it sure as heck reduces the risk of relying on one simulator that was off its rocker on that particular run.
Hence, here we go again, this time through four rounds, again assuming that Jets General Manager Joe Douglas doesn’t make any trades. As always, mock me if you must:
1st Round (No. 4): Kayvon Thibodeaux, edge rusher (Oregon)
Though opinions diverge on this highly-skilled player due to whispers about his passion for the game versus his passion for making a name for himself in the game, it is questionable whether he’ll actually be on the board at 4. However, since only three of the 12 analysts in the consensus Big Board had him gone, he has to be the pick. Jets Head Coach Robert Saleh rotates all his defensive linemen to keep them fresh, so Thibodeaux can come in on third downs as a rookie with the mandate to just get after the quarterback using what scouts say are his tremendous explosiveness and bend. ProFootballFocus.com credited him with a sensational 22.8% pass rush win rate last season, the 6th-best in the nation among edge rushers with at least 200 pass rush snaps. Thibodeaux fills a need at a premium position, exactly what you want out of the fourth pick.
1st Round (No, 10): Garrett Wilson, wide receiver (Ohio State)
With USC’s Drake London off the board, I went with who I consider this Draft’s WR 1(B) in Wilson. He’s a totally different type of receiver—whereas London is a big-bodied, contested-catch, possession receiver, Wilson might actually be a better fit in the Mike LaFleur scheme in that he excels after the catch. The one concern is that Wilson will need to get stronger to break away from press coverage, so the odds are that he won’t be the WR1 right off the bat that Douglas has been searching for all offseason. Still, when I watched some clips, I see a bit of Davante Adams in him, which convinced me to make him the pick here.
2nd round (No. 35): Jalen Pitre, defensive back (Baylor)
Is Pitre a slot corner, a box safety, or all or none of the above? What the scouting reports say is that he’s a football player in the Douglas/Saleh mold. A captain and a competitor with a nose for the football, he was the only FBS player last season with at least three fumble recoveries, three forced fumbles, and two interceptions. Per PFF, he led the nation in run stops (34). He ran a 4.46 40-yard dash time at his pro day but it’s his closing speed that makes him a solid prospect, even if he starts out just by playing special teams.
2nd Round (No. 38): Logan Hall, defensive line (Houston)
The scouting reports say this behemoth (6-foot 6, 283 pounds) has the versatility to play all over the d-line, checking an important box in Douglas’ eyes. Hall happened to be on the Jets-coached National squad at the Senior Bowl, where he reportedly turned some heads with his ability to win one-on-one battles. Hall might not have the leverage you want from an every-down interior lineman and needs to put on a little more weight, but he is a disruptor who can get to the QB, posting 6.5 sacks among his 30 pressures last season, per PFF. If he can refrain from committing personal fouls, he’s already a step up from Nathan Shepherd.
3rd Round (No. 69): Channing Tindall, linebacker (Georgia)
Instead of looking to convert college safeties into fast-playing linebackers, maybe the Jets should just draft a prototype who already has a linebacker’s body. That would be Tindall, of whom PFF raved is “among the fastest linebackers you’ll see on tape at the collegiate level.” Unfortunately, he didn’t get much of an opportunity to showcase his skills on a stacked Bulldogs defense until the latter part of his senior year. By the Championship Game, though, he was a menace, posting eight tackles and a sack. The scouts note that he has a ton of work to do to clean up his zone coverage, but they also say he’s a demon blitzer and would make a great spy in a pro game that is further emphasizing athletic QBs.
4th Round: (No. 111): Max Mitchell tackle (Louisiana)
This area of the Draft is tough sledding when looking for players who could make an immediate impact. Here, if you think you see a guy who could develop into a capable NFL starter, you nab him. So here’s Mitchell, who produced outstanding pass protection numbers using superb technique but needs to add weight to succeed at the higher level. He reportedly didn’t have the most consistent Senior Bowl and his NFL Combine numbers confirmed what scouts already knew about his middling athleticism, but there are plenty of believers out there who think he is a project worth undertaking. PFF had him mocked a round earlier. Douglas, a former offensive linemen, might have a soft spot for a hard-nosed player with solid fundamentals.
4th Round (No. 117): Kyren Williams, running back (Notre Dame)
Here I was just looking for a replacement for 2020 Draft bust La’Mical Perine. Williams projects to be at best a competent third-down back, with good hands (just 1 drop last season, per PFF) and a willingness to stick his undersized frame (5-foot 9, 194 pounds) in pass protection. Like Perine, he is not a home run hitter, posting the slowest 40 time among RBs at the Combine. Considering all the issues the Jets had with their backs in the passing game last season, with the drops and missed blitz pickups, Williams could end up as something more than a depth piece in certain games next season.