NY Jets: 4 potential Marcus Maye replacements in the 2022 NFL Draft

2. NY Jets draft target: Brandon Joseph, S, Northwestern

Brandon Joseph burst onto the college football scene last season as a redshirt freshman and immediately established himself as one of the best safeties in the nation.

Joseph was named Big Ten Freshman of the Year, voted first-team All-Big Ten, and even selected as a Consensus All-American. All of that was accomplished as a freshman.

Just a three-star recruit coming out of high school, Joseph wasn't highly recruited as he received just five FBS offers. In fact, despite being a native of College Station, Joseph wasn't even offered by his hometown Texas A&M Aggies.

Needless to say, Joseph played with a chip on his shoulder as a freshman and that much was evident on the field.

Pro Football Focus named Joseph the best strong safety in college football entering the 2021 season, and if he puts together another excellent season, he might emerge as a surefire first-round pick.

Much like Tykee Smith, Joseph isn't an ideal replacement for Marcus Maye. He best fits the profile of a strong safety, although he's shown to have above-average coverage and ball skills too.

He makes the most sense if the Jets roll with Davis as the free safety in 2022 with Joseph taking on the strong safety role.

Whether the Jets target him or not, expect Brandon Joseph to be a hot topic come next April, assuming he declares.