Ikem Ekwonu and 6 NFL Draft prospects the NY Jets must avoid

6. The NY Jets must avoid drafting Tyler Linderbaum

The 2022 NFL Draft may be relatively deep, but it's one that's lacking many elite talents at the top of the class. There aren't many true blue-chip prospects projected to be drafted early.

Iowa center Tyler Linderbaum, however, is one of the only "elite" prospects in this class. The only problem (and the reason he's not projected to go higher) is that he doesn't exactly play a premium position.

Linderbaum is widely viewed as the unanimous top center in this class and one of the best center prospects the NFL has seen in years. He's sure to have his fair share of suitors come draft day.

At 6-foot-3, 293 pounds, Linderbaum is an exceptional athlete, cerebral blocker, and technically-sound interior lineman who projects as a day-one starter and a potential All-Pro down the line.

It wouldn't be surprising to see a player like Linderbaum step in and immediately become one of the best centers in football, much like Creed Humphrey did this past year.

All of that being said, he doesn't make much sense for the Jets for a variety of reasons. With two top-10 picks, the value isn't there to take a center with one of those two selections.

And even if the Jets were to trade down, it's hard to justify drafting a new center when the team's current center, Connor McGovern, is coming off a good year and is, at worst, an average starter at his position.

The Jets need players who can serve as true impact upgrades and difference makers at premium positions. For as good of a prospect as Linderbaum is, he just wouldn't fit that criteria.