Kayvon Thibodeaux falling to the NY Jets is a real possibility

The NY Jets seemingly missed out on landing one of the top two pass rushers in the 2022 NFL Draft, Michigan's Aidan Hutchinson and Oregon's Kayvon Thibodeaux, when they finished 4-13 sitting comfortably with the No. 4 overall pick.

However, as the weeks have gone by, it's starting to seem more and more likely that the latter (if not the former) might still be an option.

Despite once being viewed as the consensus No. 1 overall pick, Thibodeaux has found his stock sliding just a little in the lead up to the NFL Draft. Numerous mock drafts and projections now have him falling outside of the top three picks and into the Jets' laps at No. 4.

What once seemed like a foregone conclusion is anything but. The Jets have a legitimate chance to land one of the best players in this draft class.

The NY Jets could definitely land Kayvon Thibodeaux in the 2022 NFL Draft

The first and most obvious question would be why is Thibodeaux falling in the first place? That answer is probably a bit complicated and it might have more to do with media hype (or a lack thereof) than anything.

But there is an external factor at play. It may not be so much as Thibodeaux is falling as opposed to other players are rising.

There has been a lot of smoke around Alabama offensive tackle Evan Neal going as high as first overall to the Jacksonville Jaguars in this year's draft, but Neal isn't the only offensive lineman who could be taken very high.

In recent weeks, we've seen players like NC State's Ikem Ekwonu and Mississippi State's Charles Cross mocked in the top three picks, with both even being projected to go No. 1 overall in different mocks.

The rise of numerous offensive linemen in this year's class could allow Thibodeaux to slide right to the Jets. By all accounts, Thibodeaux is a premier edge rusher prospect.

He has the size, length, athleticism, burst, and motor to be an All-Pro at the next level. He may not be quite the level of a Nick Bosa prospect, but he could have the same effect on the Jets' defense that Bosa did with the San Francisco 49ers.

The Jets weren't counting on one of the top pass rushers to be there at four. But they may just find themselves starting at one of them when they're on the clock in April.