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

Another week, another NY Jets mock draft. With an abundance of draft capital and so many different possibilities, the 2022 NFL Draft promises to be an exciting one for Jets fans.

And on that same note, it should lead to plenty of content in the months leading up to the draft. There are just so many different routes the Jets could take that, even with weekly mocks, it might be difficult to cover every conceivable outcome.

That said, we ran through another scenario this week. After focusing on the defense a week ago, we decided to target a different position with the Jets' first pick, although it's hardly an original concept.

As always, we made use of The Draft Network's Mock Machine to run through one possible scenario for the Jets draft in 2022. Here are the results of our latest mock.

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

The Jets will have their pick of many of the top talents in this year's draft class. This time, with Aidan Hutchinson, Kayvon Thibodeaux, and Ikem Ekwonu off the board, the Jets went with Alabama stalwart offensive tackle Evan Neal.

I wanted to make sure I grabbed Neal in this mock, and after Ekwonu surprisingly went third overall, I had no choice but to draft him here. At 6-foot-6, 360 pounds, Neal is a mammoth of an offensive tackle with experience playing on both the left and right sides of the offensive line.

He's a dominant run blocker with superb length that should allow him to excel in pass protection in the NFL as well. Given Mekhi Becton's injury issues, the Jets would be foolish to go into the 2022 season without some insurance at offensive tackle.

That insurance could be either George Fant or Morgan Moses while Becton and Neal hopefully serve as the Jets' tackle duo of the future adding yet another young stud to this offensive line.

Round 1, 7th Overall, NY Jets: Derek Stingley Jr., CB, LSU

In last week's mock, I used the fourth overall pick to select LSU's Derek Stingley Jr. After drafting Neal fourth overall this time, I was fully prepared to resort to other options with this pick. But by some miracle, Stingley was still on the board.

The Jets may very well trade down here or go in a different direction, but there was no way I was going to pass up a superstar-caliber cornerback prospect like Stingley at this spot.

Stingley has all the talent, tools, and instincts to be a future All-Pro at his position. He has prototypical size and length, a high football IQ, excellent ball skills, and rare athletic traits. If you were to construct a cornerback prospect, it would look like Derek Stingley Jr.

Pairing Stingley up with Bryce Hall would give the Jets one of the best young cornerback duos in the NFL, instantly boosting a secondary that still needs a lot of work.

Round 2, 36th Overall, NY Jets: George Pickens, WR, Georgia

The Jets bolstered their wide receiver room last offseason, but I expect them to address the position heavily again this offseason. In this case, we went the draft route adding Georgia's George Pickens early in the second round.

Pickens could provide the Jets' offense with the element they've been missing. The Jets are desperate for a big-play physical receiver who can be trusted in 50/50 situations.

They hoped they were adding that when they drafted Denzel Mims. Corey Davis had shown flashes of being that player in Tennessee. But it's clear that neither suits that role as well as Pickens would.

At 6-foot-3, 200 pounds, Pickens is one of the best ball trackers in this draft as he uses his frame to box out defenders and high-point the football. He tore his ACL in the spring which could cause his stock to drop, but Pickens has all the makings of a standout X receiver at the next level.

Round 2, 39th Overall, NY Jets: Christian Harris, LB, Alabama

The Jets have holes at all three phases of their defense and it's going to take a lot of work this offseason to correct many of their issues. One position that absolutely must be addressed is linebacker.

C.J. Mosley is a shell of the player he used to be. Quincy Williams has impressed and should return in 2022, but he's a little too volatile to be counted on as someone who will receive 80 percent of snaps per game.

Alabama's Christian Harris is the three-down, pass coverage linebacker the Jets are desperately missing. A three-year starter, Harris has long been considered one of the best linebackers in the country and the leader of Alabama's defense.

While his tackling is a work in progress, his athleticism, leadership, and coverage skills should be enough to make him a top-50 pick. Harris could be the future for the Jets at linebacker.

Round 3, 68th Overall, NY Jets: Jeremy Ruckert, TE, Ohio State

The Jets absolutely need to overhaul their tight end room in the offseason. Even if they target the position in free agency, there are a number of prospects who should be available on Day 2 that could make an immediate impact.

And perhaps none of them are a better fit than Ohio State's Jeremy Ruckert. A local Long Island product from Lindenhurst High School, Ruckert doesn't have the production that others in this class do, but he projects as someone who should be much more productive in the pros.

At 6-foot-5, 250 pounds, Ruckert is a plus athlete with excellent size and mobility. He has the catch radius to make some truly spectacular catches and the play strength to be a force as an in-line blocker.

His lack of production in a loaded Ohio State offense might cause him to fall, but Ruckert is a player who could make an instant impact as a rookie and help transform the Jets' offense.

Round 4, 109th Overall, NY Jets: Hassan Haskins, RB, Michigan

One of the more underrated needs for the Jets this offseason could be at running back. Michael Carter appears to be a steal of a pick in the fourth round of last year's draft, but the Jets could use another back to complement him.

Ty Johnson is an exciting but limited player and there's no guarantee Tevin Coleman is back next season. The Jets need someone who can run between the tackles and handle goal-line duties. Michigan's Hassan Haskins could be that player.

At 6-foot-1, 220 pounds, Haskins is a bruising back who lacks elite speed but more than makes up for it with his vision and physicality. I could see him being the Rhamondre Stevenson of this year's class and someone who can help form a formidable duo alongside Carter.

Don't rule out the Jets drafting a running back as early as Day 2 in this year's draft. Haskins makes a ton of sense if the Jets go in that direction.

Round 4, 111th Overall, NY Jets: Zach Harrison, EDGE, Ohio State

The Jets are already projected to be loaded at edge rusher next season with Carl Lawson, Bryce Huff, and John Franklin-Myers forming a very strong top-three. But as the Jets learned in 2021, you can never have too many pass rushers.

And that philosophy has guided Robert Saleh throughout his entire coaching career. That's why we snagged one here in the form of the supremely-talented Zach Harrison in Round 4.

Harrison was the No. 1 defensive end coming out of high school and a top-12 recruit. And while he's never lived up to those lofty expectations, the talent is there for Harrison to be a star at the next level if his production could match his traits.

General manager Joe Douglas has swung for the fences with high-upside players in the past and Harrison certainly fits that bill. He projects as an ideal fit in the Jets' attacking 4-3 defense and someone they could look to develop in 2022 and beyond.

Round 5, 145th Overall, NY Jets: Emil Ekiyor, OL, Alabama

The Jets will need to address their interior offensive line in the offseason, assuming they don't rely on Laurent Duvernay-Tardif as a starter in 2022. In this scenario, they likely find their starter in free agency.

But it always helps to build offensive line depth through the draft and that's why we drafted our second Alabama offensive lineman (and third overall Alabama player) of the mock in the form of Emil Ekiyor.

Ekiyor has experience playing both guard and center and could realistically play either position in the NFL. At 6-foot-3, 324 pounds, Ekiyor is one of the more athletic linemen in this year's draft and could be an ideal fit in the Jets' offensive scheme that emphasizes mobile offensive linemen.

While likely not a day-one starter, Ekiyor is a perfect developmental prospect who can compete for a starting spot as early as 2023 if all goes according to plan.

Round 5, 156th Overall, NY Jets: Romeo Doubs, WR, Nevada

The Jets need playmakers on offense. It doesn't matter what position they play — the Jets simply need players who can make plays with the ball in their hands. Nevada's Romeo Doubs fits that criteria very well.

A favorite of Carson Strong's at Nevada, Doubs is an exciting wide receiver prospect who possesses the speed and YAC ability to be a dynamic threat in any NFL offense.

He led the FBS in yards per reception for most of 2020 and is an electric playmaker after the catch. Drops have been an issue and scouts may have concerns about his overall ball skills. He's undoubtedly a prospect who's a little rough around the edges.

But you can't teach the speed and elusiveness that Doubs possesses. And in a Jets offenses that loves to emphasize YAC ability, Doubs would be a good fit here on Day 3.