21 prospects the NY Jets can study up close at the 2022 Senior Bowl

The NY Jets have been given a golden opportunity to coach at this year's Senior Bowl. While it may not seem like a big deal to some, this isn't something that should go overlooked.

After all, the Senior Bowl is much more than just one game. It's a week of practices and festivities that allow those in attendance to get to know a large number of future NFL players.

All 32 teams will send representatives, but only two franchises will be able to have their coaches work directly with the players over the course of the week. The Jets and the Detroit Lions are the two lucky teams this year.

Head coach Robert Saleh is no stranger to coaching at the Senior Bowl, even if it's something the Jets haven't done since 1979. By the way, that was the same year the Jets added both Mark Gastineau and Marty Lyons — two players they coached at the Senior Bowl.

As for Saleh, his trip to Mobile with the San Francisco 49ers helped his team get to know South Carolina wide receiver Deebo Samuel. Fast forward a few months and they were drafting him in the second round.

There are a large number of talented prospects at this year's Senior Bowl with the crop of eligible players expanding by the year. And, in all likelihood, at least one or two players at the Senior Bowl will end up with the Jets come April.

Which players could the Jets be most interested in? Let's take a look at 20 of the top prospects at the Senior Bowl that the Jets should keep a very close eye on.

1. NY Jets target: Jahan Dotson, WR, Penn State

If the Jets are looking to address the wide receiver position with one of their first four picks, Penn State's Jahan Dotson should be on their radar. The speedy deep threat is a skilled route runner who became the go-to guy in Penn State's offense.

The Jets could target Dotson to pair with Corey Davis and Elijah Moore creating one of the best wide receiver trios they've had in a long time. Keep an eye on Doston this draft season — he's in that top tier of wide receivers.

2. NY Jets target: Devin Lloyd, LB, Utah

The Jets need linebacker help even with C.J. Mosley and Quincy Williams set to return in 2022. Utah's Devin Lloyd is widely considered to be one of the best in this class and it's easy to see why.

At 6-foot-3, 235 pounds, Lloyd has the skillset and build of a modern-day NFL linebacker. He's rangy, an excellent tackler in space, and even has some pass-rush ability. Lloyd could be an intriguing target on Day 1 or early Day 2.

3. NY Jets target: Roger McCreary, CB, Auburn

This draft class is absolutely loaded with cornerbacks at the top with the likes of Derek Stingley Jr., Andrew Booth, Kaiir Elam, and Ahmad Gardner dominating headlines. But Auburn's Roger McCreary shouldn't be overlooked.

McCreary is an exceptional athlete in his own right with the versatility to play either in the slot or on the boundary. Don't be surprised if he goes in Round 1, or if the Jets are the team to snag him at some point.

4. NY Jets target: Jeremy Ruckert, TE, Ohio State

The Jets are very likely to target a tight end on Day 2 or 3 of the draft, even if they add one in free agency. Fortunately, the best tight end prospects in this class happen to be making the trip down to Mobile for the Senior Bowl.

One of those players is Long Island native Jeremy Ruckert. With outstanding hands, above-average blocking skills, and an NFL-ready frame, Ruckert could be an ideal target for Gang Green.

5. NY Jets target: Jermaine Johnson, EDGE, Florida State

Overlooked in a top-heavy edge rusher class, Florida State's Jermaine Johnson is receiving legitimate Round 1 buzz at the moment and could climb even higher with a strong showing at the Senior Bowl.

The Jets will likely look to bolster their pass-rush corps in the offseason and Johnson is probably someone they should take a closer look at.

6. NY Jets target: Jaquan Brisker, S, Penn State

The Jets will go into this offseason legitimately needing to add two starting safeties, assuming Marcus Maye doesn't come back. If they turn to the draft for one of their solutions, Penn State's Jaquan Brisker might be their best non-Kyle Hamilton option.

Brisker is an uber-athletic, versatile safety who projects as a plus-starter at the next level. The Jets could find Maye's future replacement at the Senior Bowl.

7. NY Jets target: Trey McBride, TE, Colorado State

Another one of the top tight end prospects in this year's class, many will have Colorado State's Trey McBride as their TE1. Easily the most productive tight end in his class, McBride finished with 86 catches and 1,017 yards in what was a breakout senior season.

There isn't one thing that McBride does at an elite level, but he's a well-rounded tight end who was incredibly productive in college. That alone will likely get him drafted on Day 2, perhaps by the Jets.

8. NY Jets target: Zion Johnson, OG, Boston College

Boston College has put out some really good offensive line prospects in recent years, and Zion Johnson has the chance to be the next great one.

Johnson is widely seen as a fringe Day 1/Day 2 prospect, and with the Jets looking for their right guard of the future, the athletic BC product makes a ton of sense.

9. NY Jets target: Derion Kendrick, CB, Georgia

Roger McCreary is probably the best cornerback at the Senior Bowl this year, but he's far from the only one who should hear his name called early in the draft.

Georgia's Derion Kendrick will be somewhat of a controversial prospect, but he has the tools and raw talent to be a special player at the NFL. Just how early the former Clemson standout comes off the board could depend on his performance in Mobile.

10. NY Jets target: Chad Muma, LB, Wyoming

One of my personal favorite prospects in this entire draft class is Wyoming's Chad Muma. A true three-down linebacker, Muma has the size of a throwback linebacker with the athleticism and range of a modern-day coverage linebacker.

He has the potential to be just as good if not better than his former Wyoming teammate, Logan Wilson, who is shining in Cincinnati. I could see the Jets falling in love with Muma at the Senior Bowl.

11. NY Jets target: Isaiah Likely, TE, Coastal Carolina

Another mid-round tight end option who will look to improve his stock at the Senior Bowl is Coastal Carolina's Isaiah Likely. Now, Likely is more built from the same mold as Evan Engram than George Kittle making him an interesting scheme fit.

But if the Jets are looking for a speedy matchup nightmare to deploy from the slot, Likely might just be their guy.

12. NY Jets target: Bernhard Raimann, OT, Central Michigan

The Austrian-born Bernhard Raimann is one of the most intriguing prospects in this year's class. At a towering 6-foot-7, 305 pounds, Raimann's ceiling is through the roof despite the fact that he's only been playing the position for a couple of years.

Raimann is undoubtedly a developmental project, but he's someone the Jets could consider taking if they get the right impression in Mobile.

13. NY Jets target: Jalen Tolbert, WR, South Alabama

At 6-foot-3, 193 pounds, Jalen Tolbert has excellent length for the wide receiver position and he combines that with good speed and superb ball-tracking skills making him one of the more dangerous deep threats in this class.

The Jets need playmakers on offense and Tolbert absolutely fits that description.

14. NY Jets target: Myjai Sanders, EDGE, Cincinnati

One of the many NFL prospects on a loaded Cincinnati roster, Myjai Sanders has excellent length at 6-foot-5, 255 pounds that he pairs with an explosive first step.

Don't be surprised to see Sanders climb into Round 1 consideration with a strong performance at the Senior Bowl.

15. NY Jets target: Coby Bryant, CB, Cincinnati

Another Cincinnati defensive standout, Coby Bryant is one of the many talented cornerbacks looking to boost their draft stock in such a stacked class. Bryant is long and tall at 6-foot-2 with the ball skills/tracking ability to be quite the turnover machine.

The Jets ideally need another cornerback to pair up with Bryce Hall and adding Bryant to a room already featuring Hall, Brandin Echols, and Michael Carter II would give the Jets a young but very talented cornerback depth chart.

16. NY Jets target: Hassan Haskins, RB, Michigan

Running back might not seem like the direst need for the Jets this offseason, but I'd be very surprised if they didn't address it in some way. What they're really missing is a reliable between-the-tackles, short-yardage rusher.

Michigan's Hassan Haskins could fill that void. Haskins rushed for over 1,300 yards and 20 touchdowns as a senior and could be an appealing target early on Day 3 if he's available.

17. NY Jets target: Jake Ferguson, TE, Wisconsin

The last of the tight ends we're going to talk about, Wisconsin's Jake Ferguson is another well-rounded prospect who could be a target for the Jets on Day 2 or 3 of the draft.

Ferguson is a good blocker who has reliable hands and the ability to split out in the slot. He's one of the more unheralded tight ends in this class, but I could see him being a really good pro player.

18. NY Jets target: Jalen Pitre, S, Baylor

If the Jets are looking for a versatile, do-it-all safety that they can likely land on Day 2 or 3, Baylor's Jalen Pitre might make the most sense as a player to pursue.

He's a little undersized at just 6-foot, 197 pounds, but Pitre makes up for it with his athleticism and versatility. He's played everywhere from center-field safety to box safety to slot corner to even sun-linebacker.

19. NY Jets target: Brian Robinson Jr., RB, Alabama

Hassan Haskins isn't the only powerful running back that will look to make a name for himself at the Senior Bowl. Alabama's Brian Robinson Jr. will also be in attendance, and if you watched any game of his this season, you'll know just how mean and nasty of a runner he is.

Robinson is never going to have breakaway speed, but his contact balance and raw power make him very difficult to take down on first or even second contact. The Jets could really use another running back like that.

20. NY Jets target: Boye Mafe, EDGE, Minnesota

Robert Saleh has made it clear over the course of his career that he loves deep defensive line rotations, so expect him to work overtime with the defensive linemen at the Senior Bowl.

Minnesota's Boye Mafe is an intriguing Day 3 developmental pass rusher who has the physical tools to be a very productive NFL player, but is lacking from a technical standpoint.

21. NY Jets target: Darian Kinnard, OL, Kentucky

The last prospect we're going to look at is Kentucky offensive lineman Darian Kinnard. Kinnard has spent most of his college career at right tackle, but many project him as more of a guard at the next level.

Either way, the massive 6-foot-5, 345-pound monster that is Kinnard could add yet another young building block to a promising Jets offensive line. Whether the Jets see him as a tackle or as a guard, he should be a target.