NY Jets trade for Deebo Samuel in 7-round 2022 NFL Mock Draft

Round 1, 4th Overall, NY Jets: Kayvon Thibodeaux, EDGE, Oregon

Nothing changes with the No. 4 overall pick as the Jets still go with one of the best players in the entire draft, and a player who fills a major position of need, in Oregon edge rusher Kayvon Thibodeaux.

Thibodeaux remains my top target for the Jets at this spot (assuming Aidan Hutchinson is off the board) due to his blend of speed, athleticism, and length. He offers a higher upside than someone like Jermaine Johnson and a higher floor than someone like Travon Walker.

The 21-year-old pass rusher led Oregon in sacks and tackles for loss in each of the last three seasons, was a Unanimous All-American selection in 2021, and was widely regarded as a vocal team leader at Oregon (despite what other rumors might suggest).

He isn't quite at the level of a Nick Bosa-caliber prospect, but he has the ability to have a similar impact on Robert Saleh's defense. The Jets add a blue-chip talent at one of the most important positions in the game.

Round 1, 10th Overall, NY Jets: Derek Stingley Jr., CB, LSU

This is where things get a little interesting. With Ahmad 'Sauce' Gardner off the board and wide receiver already addressed via trade, there wasn't an obvious target at this spot. In the end, I swung for the fences with LSU cornerback Derek Stingley Jr.

The red flags with Stingley are evident. Following a dominant true freshman season in 2019, Stingley has fallen a bit short of expectations as injuries and inconsistent play have dropped his stock.

The Stingley we saw in 2019 is better than any cornerback prospect in this class, Gardner included. The question is, will he be able to recapture that magic again in the NFL?

If he stays healthy, I'm confident he will. The Jets address their defense in a big way by adding two top prospects at valuable positions. That's one way to fix a defense that ranked 32nd in the NFL last season.