NY Jets: 4 positions the team could target in the 2022 NFL Draft

4. The NY Jets could target tight end in the 2022 NFL Draft

The tight end position remains somewhat of a mystery for the Jets. The team is clinging on to their last bit of hope with former fourth-round pick Chris Herndon who enters the 2021 season as the de facto starter.

Herndon flashed in his rookie season, but has fallen off a proverbial cliff since then. An injury-riddled 2019 paved the way for a truly awful 2020 campaign, and now, Herndon finds himself barely holding on to the starting job.

The Jets still believe that Herndon has untapped potential and that he could finally reach his ceiling in new offensive coordinator Mike LaFleur's system.

But it's certainly not something they're willing to bet their future on.

If Herndon fails again in 2021, the Jets will likely search for his replacement the following offseason. One place they could turn to is the 2022 NFL Draft.

The consensus top tight end in next year's draft class right now is Texas A&M's Jalen Wydermyer. At 6-foot-5, 265 pounds, Wydermyer blends excellent size with impressive athleticism that gives him a sky-high ceiling.

A few other names to keep an eye on are Washington's Cade Otton, Coastal Carolina's Isaiah Likely, and Cincinnati's Josh Whyle.

Don't be surprised if the Jets are searching for Herndon's replacement come next April.