NY Jets make major OL additions in 7-round 2022 NFL Mock Draft

Yes, it's already mock draft season for the NY Jets. Following an embarrassing 54-13 loss to the New England Patriots in which rookie quarterback Zach Wilson suffered a knee injury, it's safe to say that any optimism surrounding the 2021 season has vanished.

Once again, many have already shifted their attention to the offseason in hopes that this franchise could finally right the ship and elevate themselves from the NFL's basement.

But enough about that. Mock drafts are supposed to be fun. They're supposed to ignite optimism and generate excitement. After all, there's no better time to be optimistic than the offseason.

That's especially true for the Jets who will head into the spring with an abundance of draft capital. Multiple selections in the first, second, and fourth round should allow the Jets to land a ton of premium players.

And everyone knows the Jets need premium players.

General manager Joe Douglas has rightfully received criticism for the state of the organization right now, but he'll be given at least one more draft to turn things around.

The 2022 NFL Draft will be a crucial one for the Jets. With the help of The Draft Network's Mock Machine, let's take a look at one potential scenario.

Round 1, 4th Overall, NY Jets: Evan Neal, OT, Alabama

The Jets need blue-chip prospects wherever they could find them. And with the likes of Kayvon Thibodeaux, Derek Stingley Jr., and Kyle Hamilton already off the board, the easy choice to make was Alabama tackle Evan Neal.

Neal remains in the conversation to be the first overall selection in this year's draft and it wouldn't be a surprise to see him go before this pick. At 6-foot-6, 350 pounds, Neal is considered perhaps the best offensive tackle prospect the NFL has seen in years.

This isn't a Penei Sewell situation either. Neal has plenty of experience playing right tackle and could easily bookend the offensive line along with Mekhi Becton.

Now, you could argue that using the fourth overall pick on a right tackle is questionable. But the Jets need great players and Neal was easily the best prospect on the board.

Round 1, 12th Overall, NY Jets: Kenyon Green, OG, Texas A&M

This is how you fix an offensive line. After using the fourth overall pick on a franchise tackle, the Jets come right back and use the 12th overall pick on their long-term right guard.

Kenyon Green is considered to be perhaps the best interior offensive line prospect in this year's class. He's versatile having played both tackle and guard and as technically sound as they come.

Green could replace Greg Van Roten and give the Jets a fearsome foursome of young, stud offensive linemen.

Just imagine an offensive line featuring Becton, Alijah Vera-Tucker, Green, and Neal. It's too good to be true.

Round 2, 36th Overall, NY Jets: Jordan Battle, S, Alabama

One of the most underrated needs on the roster heading into the offseason will be at safety. Marcus Maye's days with the organization appear numbered and there's no other long-term solution on the roster, barring a second-half Ashtyn Davis breakout.

Well, here is your Marcus Maye replacement.

Alabama safety Jordan Battle is a rangy, versatile safety who has experience both in a single-high, center-field role as well as playing down in the box. Perfect for a Robert Saleh defense that allows his safeties to be flexible in their assignments.

Overshadowed a bit by Kyle Hamilton, Battle has all the makings of an excellent player and would be a great value pick at this spot, at least from a late-October standpoint.

Round 2, 43rd Overall, NY Jets: Jalen Wydermyer, TE, Texas A&M

The Jets need to address the tight end position in a significant way this offseason. No more stop-gaps, this team needs a real tight end.

That's why they grabbed one of this year's best tight end prospects in Texas A&M's Jalen Wydermyer.

Wydermyer stands at 6-foot-5, 255 pounds and is built like an NBA player. He uses that size to his advantage both in the receiving game and as a blocker.

The 20-year-old is a do-it-all tight end with no glaring weaknesses who could go very high in this year's draft. The Jets manage to snag him early in the second round here.

Round 3, 68th Overall, NY Jets: Jermaine Waller, CB, Virginia Tech

Even after drafting three cornerbacks on Day 3 of last year's draft, the Jets could still make a few additions at the position this offseason.

And that's what we did right here using the team's only third-round pick, and last top-100 selection, on Virginia Tech's Jermaine Waller.

At 6-foot-1, 180 pounds, Waller is a long and rangy cornerback who is equally as adept in man coverage as he is zone. He's had injury issues in the past that caused him to miss most of the 2020 season.

But the talent is evident, and the Jets have shown in the past that they're not afraid to take a chance on a talented cornerback with an injury history.

Round 4, 113th Overall, NY Jets: Amaré Barno, EDGE, Virginia Tech

The Jets' pass rush has been one of the team's strengths through six games, and that's been without prized free-agent addition Carl Lawson. But that doesn't mean they're going to ignore the position this offseason.

One thing they're missing up front, especially without Lawson, is explosiveness. Virginia Tech's Amaré Barno certainly doesn't lack that.

At 6-foot-4, 242 pounds, Barno is a little undersized for a 4-3 defensive end role but he makes up for it with a long, athletic frame and an explosive first step.

He's a classic developmental edge rusher who will need time to grow into his frame. His raw talent is evident, and the Jets could use a high-upside pass rusher on their roster.

Round 4, 122nd Overall, NY Jets: Amari Gainer, LB, Florida State

Amari Gainer fits the mold of what Robert Saleh and Jeff Ulbrich look for in their linebackers. At 6-foot-3, 232 pounds, Gainer has ideal size for a modern-day NFL linebacker, and his versatility should make him appealing to many teams.

He has experience lining up in the slot covering tight ends as well as patrolling the middle of a defense in a MIKE linebacker role.

He's even played a little edge defender and can be used as a situational pass rusher from time to time. The Jets are still looking for linebacker help and Gainer could be a player to keep an eye on next April.

Round 5, 146th Overall, NY Jets: Trey McBride, TE, Colorado State

We talked about fixing the tight end position, and this is the way to do it. The Jets need to completely overhaul the position this offseason which is why it could make sense to double-up at tight end in the 2022 NFL Draft.

After drafting Jalen Wydermyer in the second round, we snagged Colorado State's Trey McBride here in the fifth. McBride is a little less dynamic than his fellow draft-mate, but he makes up for it with versatility and blocking skills.

Colorado State likes to deploy McBride as a tight end/H-back hybrid and he could be a perfect replacement for Trevon Wesco in the Jets' offense.

The Jets love to run 12 personnel, but they just don't have the players for it. Wydermyer and McBride give them an excellent one-two punch to build around at tight end.

Round 5, 157th Overall, NY Jets: Breece Hall, RB, Iowa State

Day 3 of the draft is a perfect time to target the running back position. And even though the Jets have a solid foundation of Michael Carter and Ty Johnson to build upon, they could certainly make another addition.

In Round 5, we managed to snag a player who was arguably the best running back in the nation a year ago.

Iowa State's Breece Hall received Heisman consideration last season leading the FBS with 1,572 yards on the ground. He's an all-purpose back whose speed should allow him to excel at the next level.

Quite frankly, I was shocked that he was still available this late.

Round 6, 197th Overall, NY Jets: Storm Duck, CB, North Carolina

The Jets repeat their approach from last season adding multiple cornerbacks in this year's draft. North Carolina's Storm Duck doesn't just have an excellent name, he's also an excellent prospect.

Duck missed most of the 2020 season due to injury, much like the other cornerback we drafted, but he's a prototypical outside cornerback with the intangibles to succeed in the NFL.

He's a willing tackler who has plenty of experience in a Cover 3 system. Look for him to climb up draft boards if he could stay healthy throughout the 2021 season.

Round 6, 209th Overall, NY Jets: Dontario Drummond, WR, Ole Miss

We couldn't go a draft without adding a wide receiver, and that's exactly what we did here using the Jets' 11th and final pick on Ole Miss standout Dontario Drummond.

One year after selecting his former teammate in Elijah Moore, the Jets add another potential playmaker in the 6-foot-1, 210-pound Drummond.

Drummond has been the player who has been tasked with filling Moore's role following his departure and could make sense for a Jets team that might lose Jamison Crowder, Keelan Cole, and Braxton Berrios this offseason.

The biggest knock on him is age as he'll turn a whopping 25-years-old before he makes his NFL debut. But the former JUCO standout could still find himself drafted on talent and production alone.