NY Jets land game-changing WR in 7-round 2022 NFL Mock Draft

The NY Jets season has come to an end following a 27-10 loss to the Buffalo Bills in Week 18. But with the regular season now in the rearview mirror, the Jets' real season is set to begin.

General manager Joe Douglas has done a good job laying the foundation for the future of the franchise. But after a four-win season in 2021, it's clear that there's still plenty of work to be done.

Much of that work must take place this offseason with the 2022 NFL Draft being another crucial avenue for Douglas to continue building the roster.

With help from The Draft Network's Mock Machine, we set forth to run through one scenario of how the Jets' draft might look this year. Here are our results.

Round 1, 4th Overall, NY Jets: George Karlaftis, EDGE, Purdue

The Jets are now locked into the fourth overall pick in this year's draft, and they should have plenty of options at this spot. With Kyle Hamilton and the top two edge rushers already off the board, we decided to roll with the player we took with this pick in last week's mock.

Purdue's George Karlaftis could be the key to unlocking the Jets' defense. He won't get the press that flashier prospects like Aidan Hutchinson and Kayvon Thibodeaux might get, but he has all the tools to be a dominant pass rusher at the next level.

Karlaftis is as skilled and refined as any pass rusher in this class with the power and athleticism to be a regular double-digit sack artist. Think of him as a more athletic Ryan Kerrigan.

Only Karlaftis has the potential to be an even better player than Kerrigan has been. Pairing him up with Carl Lawson and Quinnen Williams could give the Jets the elite defensive line that Robert Saleh has been looking to replicate since his days in San Francisco.