3 mid-round tight ends the NY Jets can target in the 2022 NFL Draft

With over two months to go before the upcoming 2022 NFL Draft, it's still never too early to begin the process of evaluating the many positional needs of the NY Jets. Without a doubt, the greatest need on the offensive side of the ball for the Jets is the tight end position.

Surprisingly, general manager Joe Douglas chose not to prioritize the tight end in 2021 and went into the season with the likes of Tyler Kroft and Ryan Griffin.

Douglas can not afford to make that same mistake again and this year he must solidify the position with quality personnel. The good news is that between free agency and the draft he will have a lot of talent to choose from.

The Jets have not had a bonafide stud at tight end since Dustin Keller left the team for the Miami Dolphins and that was almost 10 years ago. They have tried many times through the draft but have failed each time.

First, it was Jace Amaro out of Texas Tech who in his final collegiate season hauled in over 100 passes. Unfortunately, his pass-catching skills didn't translate well at the pro level and he developed a bad case of the drops. Combined with injuries, Amaro was gone after only two seasons with the green and white.

The Jets tried again with former Clemson tight end Jordan Leggett, but he couldn't do in the NFL what he did to Alabama in the 2017 National Championship game.

Finally, it looked like the Jets had found their man from the University of Miami in Chris Herndon, but when it was all said and done, he didn't live up to expectations either.

A lot can happen between now and the draft in terms of free agency and trades, but for now, let's assume Gang Green addresses the defensive side of the ball in at least the first two rounds of the draft.

Guys like Trey McBride, Isaiah Likely, and Jalen Wydermyer will probably be off the board by the end of the second round. However, let's take a look at three guys who could still be available in the mid-rounds who could be attractive options for the Jets.

3. NY Jets target: Greg Dulcich, UCLA

Greg Dulcich has quietly risen up the ranks of the tight end position over the past two seasons at UCLA and has developed into one of the more dynamic tight ends in college football.

Once an unnoticed, walk-on receiver, Dulcich has worked hard at his craft and is now considered by many to be one of the more versatile tight ends in college football.

Listed at 6-foot-4 and 250 pounds, Dulcich has good size and strength and often uses his size to box out his opponents. Though he may appear to be a little light for a tight end at the NFL level, he makes up for that with a long wingspan which helps him to elongate on his reach of high throws and to make the tough catches over the middle of the field.

In 2021, Dulcich had 42 receptions for 725 yards at an average of 17.3 yards per catch. He also hauled in five touchdown receptions as well. For his career with the Bruins, Dulcich had 77 receptions for 1,353 yards and 11 touchdowns. Almost all of those numbers were compiled over his last two seasons at UCLA.

As previously mentioned, Dulcich is extremely versatile and can be utilized in multiple formations. He has played in the slot, out wide, in-line, and at the H-back position.

His ability to play all over the field should make him an attractive option for the Jets. Offensive coordinator Mike LaFleur has shown his desire to be creative in his offensive game planning and a guy like Dulcich could fit in nicely.

Dulcich is considered to be an intelligent player who has displayed solid zone awareness and the ability to find blind spots on the field and get open. He is not considered to be overly fast but does have good lateral movement and accelerates well out of his breaks.

Greg Dulcich has been somewhat underappreciated to this point, but could be a solid value pick in the third or fourth round for the Jets. With proper coaching and development, Dulcich has the intangibles needed to be a starting tight end in the NFL.

2. NY Jets target: Charlie Kolar, Iowa State

If you're looking for a tight end with an abundance of game experience in the draft then Iowa State's Charlie Kolar is your guy. In four seasons for the Hawkeyes, Kolar has 43 games played under his belt. Saying he's an experienced player would be an understatement, to say the least.

Kolar has gotten better each year and he has the numbers to prove it. He culminated his record-setting career at Iowa State in 2021 by catching 62 passes for 756 yards and six touchdowns. Overall, Kolar hauled in 168 passes for 2,181 yards and 23 touchdowns.

He holds numerous school records for his position and over the last three years has been one of the most productive receiving tight ends in the country.

Kolar doesn't just have good hands — quite simply put he has hands of glue. He has proven that if he gets his hands on the ball then it's almost certain he's going to catch it. With those 168 career receptions come very few drops for the big tight end.

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At 6-foot-6 and 260 pounds, Kolar is a big target for any quarterback and offers a massive catch radius when extending his arms for the high pass. He does appear to have limitations in his athleticism but makes up for it by being a high-effort guy with a strong motor.

Kolar is also great when it comes to contested catches and, as a bonus, can anchor the line with above-average blocking skills. If that's not enough for you check out his overall college GPA.

Kolar was the winner of the William V. Campbell Trophy which is given to the top scholar-athlete in college football. He maintained a near 4.0 GPA as a Mechanical Engineering major.

Charlie Kolar could be a welcome addition to the Jets as a reliable, rotational, red zone threat and provide Zach Wilson with a safety net on short to mid-range passes. Look for him to be drafted somewhere around the third or fourth round.

1. Y Jets target: Jeremy Ruckert, Ohio State

Jeremy Ruckert is without a doubt one of the most underutilized tight ends in this year's draft class. At first glance, his overall statistics look quite pedestrian compared to the other upper-echelon players at his position.

He is extremely underrated given his overall ability but when he has been given a chance he has performed at an elite level.

The former Ohio State Buckeye was a victim of playing for a team for which their offensive system did not revolve much around the pass-catching ability of their tight ends.

With the likes of Chris Olave and Garrett Wilson at the wide receiver position, Ruckert was known more for his blocking ability than his receiving skills. However, make no mistake about it, Ruckert can catch the ball and be an effective target in the short to intermediate passing game.

Ruckert's overall skill set was on full display during Ohio State's Playoff and National Championship games during the 2020-21 season. Against Clemson, in the playoffs, he caught two touchdown passes and, despite losing the National Championship Game to Alabama, hauled in another 36-yard touchdown catch.

At 6-foot-5 and 250 pounds, Ruckert has deceptive athleticism and can make the tough contested catches over the middle of the field. Ruckert is arguably the best blocker at his position and has the size to handle both linebackers and defensive ends at the NFL level.

Ruckert is originally from Lindenhurst, New York, and it would make for a great story if he were able to play for his hometown New York Jets.

With proper coaching and the right system to better utilize his talent and abilities, Ruckert has the potential to be a star tight end at the NFL level. He would be a steal for the Jets as a third or fourth-round draft selection.