1 edge rusher the NY Jets can target in every round of the 2022 NFL Draft

The NY Jets have a number of needs to address in the 2022 NFL Draft, and one position that remains high on their list of priorities is edge rusher. Fortunately, this year's draft class has no shortage of talented edge rusher prospects.

With two picks in the top-10, most assume that the Jets will target a pass rusher early in the draft. But this is a Robert Saleh defense we're talking about — even if they do land one in the first round, that doesn't prevent them from addressing the position again at a later time.

That's why we went through and identified one edge rusher the Jets could target in all seven rounds of the draft. Of course, the Jets don't have a pick in all seven rounds at the time of writing, but draft-day trades do happen.

Just because they don't have a seventh-round pick now, doesn't mean they won't come later this month. With that, let's take a look at seven edge rushers the Jets could target in the 2022 NFL Draft.

NY Jets Round 1 Target: Kayvon Thibodeaux (Oregon)

The Jets will likely have their fair share of options in the first round. As many as four edge rushers are projected to be selected in the top-10, and the Jets should be able to pick from at least one or two of them.

My personal favorite target is Kayvon Thibodeaux, assuming Aidan Hutchinson is off the board (as is expected to be the case). Thibodeaux has become one of the most contentious prospects in this year's draft cycle, but there's no denying his talent.

At 6-foot-4, 254 pounds, Thibodeaux has elite first-step explosiveness, exceptional length, and all the physical tools necessary to be a top star in the NFL.

You can go with other players such as Travon Walker or Jermaine Johnson here, but Thibodeaux possesses the best combination of upside and NFL-ready skills. He should be a top target for the Jets.

NY Jets Round 2 Target: Arnold Ebiketie (Penn State)

Penn State's Arnold Ebiketie is one of those under-the-radar players who may end up a surprise first-round pick. But if he's still there when the Jets are on the board early in the second round, he makes plenty of sense.

Born in Cameroon, Ebiketie moved to the United States at a relatively young age and attended Temple before transferring to Penn State in 2021. It was at Penn State that he began to emerge as one of the better edge rushers in the nation.

Ebiketie broke out as a senior racking up 9.5 sacks en route to earning first-team All-Big Ten honors. At 6-foot-2, 250 pounds, Ebiketie wins with speed, twitchy athleticism, and an outstanding first step.

He would be an excellent fit in the Jets' attacking 4-3 front that would allow him to attack up the field by using his impressive speed and burst. Ebiketie is a very appealing second-round option.

NY Jets Round 3 Target: Sam Williams (Ole Miss)

Much like Ebiketie, Sam Williams is another player coming off a breakout 2021 season that allowed him to establish himself as one of the best edge rushers in this draft class.

Williams earned first-team All-SEC honors and was named third-team All-American this past season after finishing with 12.5 sacks and 15 tackles for loss in his final year at Ole Miss.

Williams is a much more refined pass rusher than run defender at this point in his career and he will likely be asked to play a rotational role early on, but his pass-rush upside is immense.

He's a good athlete with excellent flexibility and a high motor that should allow him to contribute early in his NFL career. A worthwhile target in the third round of the draft.

NY Jets Round 4 Target: Myjai Sanders (Cincinnati)

Myjai Sanders' draft journey has been somewhat of a rollercoaster over the last few months. Despite playing at roughly 250 pounds at Cincinnati and weighing in at 242 pounds at the Senior Bowl, Sanders showed up to the NFL Combine weighing just 228 pounds.

A previously undisclosed illness caused him to lose almost 20 pounds within the span of a few weeks and it's hard to say how that affected his draft stock. Nonetheless, going off his college tape, Sanders is someone to keep an eye on.

Sanders is another high-upside, physically talented edge rusher. He has an elite first step with long arms that allow him to navigate around opposing offensive linemen.

Combine that with his raw athletic talent and bend and you have a player who could become a very effective pass rusher at the next level. If he's still there on Day 3, the Jets should certainly have him high on their draft board.

NY Jets Round 5 Target: Tyreke Smith (Ohio State)

A former highly-touted recruit, Tyreke Smith's production never matched his potential at Ohio State. That doesn't mean he wasn't still an effective player though.

While seven sacks in three years isn't exactly impressive production, Smith was one of Ohio State's better pass rushers during his time in Columbus. At 6-foot-4, 265 pounds, Smith has good size for the position and is likely best fit in an attacking 4-3 scheme like the Jets'.

Injuries ultimately curbed Smith's production at Ohio State as he played more than eight games just once during his four years in college. But when healthy, he's proven to be a more-than-capable edge defender.

Smith has a hot motor and enough upside to warrant a selection here on Day 3. If the Jets are looking for a rotational defensive end who could develop into a future starter, Smith makes sense as a fifth-round target.

NY Jets Round 6 Target: Josh Paschal (Kentucky)

I think Josh Paschal should and probably will go earlier than this, but most mock drafts I've seen project him as a later Day 3 prospect. If that's the case, the Jets should absolutely pounce if he's still available in the sixth round.

Paschal is everything the Jets usually look for in young prospects. A highly-regarded on and off-field leader, Paschal is the only three-time full-season captain in school history.

He probably doesn't have the elite traits to ever be a star player in the NFL, but he plays with impressive strength at the point of attack and has a motor that never runs dry.

Paschal has drawn comparisons to players like Emmanuel Ogbah and the Jets' own John Franklin Myers as he's probably a tweener at the next stage. The Jets could find a home for him though, especially if he's still available this late in the draft.

NY Jets Round 7 Target: Myron Tagovailoa-Amosa (Notre Dame)

Myron Tagovailoa-Amosa is a classic overachiever. He lacks the athleticism or raw physical traits to ever be a standout player at the next level, but his worth ethic and versatility could earn him a spot in the league as a rotational player.

Originally an interior lineman, the 6-foot-2, 282-pound Tagovailoa-Amosa dropped 20 pounds and moved to an edge role in 2021. It's hard to say what his best role will be in the NFL, however.

The cousin of Miami Dolphins quarterback Tua Tagovailoa and brother of Maryland QB Taulia Tagovailoa, Myron Tagovailoa-Amosa could be a worthwhile pickup late on Day 3.

He's another player who can play that tweener role that John Franklin-Myers and Solomon Thomas are currently projected to fill. The Jets need defensive line depth and Tagovailoa-Amosa would provide them with a versatile chess piece who can play all over the defensive line.