Mel Kiper's latest mock draft should have NY Jets fans excited

The NY Jets will be looking to add difference-makers on both sides of the ball in this year's 2022 NFL Draft. And that's exactly what they did in the most recent mock draft from ESPN's Mel Kiper.

Kiper has the Jets selecting Oregon edge rusher Kayvon Thibodeaux with the fourth overall pick, USC wide receiver Drake London at No. 10 overall, and he has them trading back into the first round to select Iowa center Tyler Linderbaum at pick 31.

The projection has the Jets sending pick 35 to the Cincinnati Bengals along with a Day 3 pick to move up four spots. Since this was a two-round mock, he also had the Jets adding Iowa State running back Breece Hall at pick 38.

It's hard for Jets fans not to get excited about this draft, especially when it comes to those first two picks.

Mel Kiper's latest mock draft is a home run for the NY Jets

Thibodeaux is widely seen as one of the best overall prospects in this year's draft, and even amidst rumors that he could slide a little, there are still plenty who believe he's a top-five lock and a prime target for the Jets at No. 4 overall.

Kiper seems to suggest that here. At 6-foot-4, 254 pounds, Thibodeaux is an exciting pass-rusher prospect with the length, athleticism, and explosiveness to become a perennial All-Pro at the next level.

Thibodeaux turned 21-years-old only a few months ago and he has the production to back up the tape, having led Oregon in sacks and tackles for loss in each of the last three seasons.

As for London, he fits the profile of exactly what the Jets are looking for at the wide receiver position. He adds an element of physicality to a Jets' receiving corps that desperately needs some. That said, he's far from a liability as a route-runner either and has proven he can separate efficiently as well.

Trading up for Linderbaum is an interesting proposal and it would almost definitely coincide with the release of veteran starter Connor McGovern.

McGovern is an average starter and the Jets are happy with him, but if Linderbaum falls all the way to the end of the first round, they may not be able to turn down a potentially sizable upgrade as well as a long-term solution.

Finally, Hall in the second round is a bit of an odd one and it does seem unlikely that the Jets will spend a top-40 pick on a running back. In the 20+ years that Joe Douglas has been involved in the NFL Draft process, his teams have only selected a running back in the top-50 picks once.

Given the other needs on the Jets' roster, it seems more likely they wait until Day 3 to address running back, if they do at all.

Still, even with that, it's hard to get upset about this draft haul. The Jets would be landing three instant-impact starters on offense and a potential game-changer on defense.

This is a home-run mock draft for the Jets.