NY Jets trade down TWICE in stacked 7-round 2022 NFL Mock Draft

Another week, another NY Jets mock draft. The Jets finished the 2021 season with a 4-13 record, doubling their win total from a year ago, but still recording one of the worst records in the NFL.

If the Jets are going to continue to turn this franchise around and right the ship, they're going to need to make the right moves this offseason to ensure it. And in many ways, this is a make-or-break offseason for general manager Joe Douglas.

Douglas has done a good job of laying the foundation and setting the Jets up for future success. But entering his third offseason with the organization, that future needs to arrive pretty quickly.

The Jets can't afford another four-win season in 2022, not with the resources they have at their disposal this offseason. With heaps of cap space and a ton of draft capital, the Jets have the assets to turn this roster into a playoff contender next year.

To do so, they'll have to make the most of what they have, however. Take the Miami Dolphins as a cautionary tale. General manager Chris Grier possessed all the cap space he could dream of and the most draft capital in the NFL.

But what did he do with it? He wasted it. And now, the Dolphins aren't really much better off than they were before their rebuild. The Jets can't make those same mistakes.

We made use of Pro Football Network's mock simulator for this week's mock, and we did a little moving around on Day 1. You've already seen the title, but what picks and prospects did the Jets net with their two draft-day trades?

There's only one way to find out.

Round 1, 10th Overall, NY Jets: Garrett Wilson, WR, Ohio State

That's a lot of moving. Like a lot of moving. Essentially, we traded down twice from pick No. 4, first to No. 9, and then to No. 13. In the end, we managed to pick up two additional second-round picks and another third. Those will be put to good use in a moment.

But first, let's talk about the first pick the Jets actually made — that being Ohio State's Garrett Wilson. Wilson is who we took at this spot in our last mock draft, and he made sense again with some of the other top targets off the board.

Garrett Wilson is everything the Jets are looking for in a wide receiver prospect. He's a dynamic catch-and-run receiver with outstanding route-running ability and big-play potential.

Wilson isn't the fastest or strongest guy out there, and he might just be better off as a slot receiver at the NFL level. But the Jets are looking for receivers who can make plays in space and become high-volume targets in their passing game.

Wilson fits that to a tee.

Round 1, 13th Overall, NY Jets: Kenyon Green, OL, Texas A&M (TRADE)

Kenyon Green is one of my favorite offensive line prospects in this class, and while he might be a reach inside the top-10, I think it's perfectly safe to take him here at this spot.

Green's versatility immediately springs to mind as a selling point. He has experience playing every offensive line position except center and could realistically step in as a day-one starter at either guard spot or right tackle.

The Jets just so happen to have question marks at both right guard and right tackle and Green could become a day-one starter at either spot depending on the moves the Jets make in free agency.

At 6-foot-4, 325 pounds, Green has the size to be a mauler in the run game while possessing the quickness and lateral agility to hold up in pass protection, even at right tackle.

Pairing him up with Mekhi Becton and Alijah Vera-Tucker would give the Jets one of the best young offensive line trios in the NFL.

Round 2, 35th Overall, NY Jets: Trent McDuffie, CB, Washington

The Jets could opt to address the cornerback position early on Day 1, but I think it's more likely they wait until the second day to make any major additions. One player Jets fans should get very familiar with is Washington's Trent McDuffie.

McDuffie has gotten a little overshadowed in a stacked cornerback class, but he has all the tools to become a very good player at the pro level. At 5-foot-11, 195 pounds, McDuffie fits the size mold of what the Jets are looking for in their cornerbacks.

He's an instinctual zone-coverage defender with the versatility to line up either outside or in the slot. He isn't the most physical player in coverage, but he's never one to shy away from contact and has been known to be uber-aggressive in run defense.

McDuffie is a tough-as-nails, technically-sound cornerback prospect who might be overlooked with athletic freaks like Derek Stingley Jr. and Kaiir Elam in this class, but I wouldn't be surprised to see him become a better player than some of the guys likely to be drafted ahead of him.

Round 2, 38th Overall, NY Jets: Myjai Sanders, EDGE, Cincinnati

The Jets are going to need to improve their pass rush in the offseason, and they can't just rely on a returning Carl Lawson to solve all of their pass-rush woes. Expect the Jets to be aggressive in their draft-day pursuit of an edge rusher.

We didn't land one on Day 1, but we still managed to snag a pretty good one here on Day 2 in the form of Cincinnati's Myjai Sanders. At 6-foot-5, 255 pounds, Sanders has excellent length and some of the best burst in this class.

He has an explosive first step with the length and bend to be a real problem for opposing offensive tackles. His athletic traits are reminiscent of Yannick Ngakoue's coming out of college and that's probably a good projection for what Sanders could become.

He needs to work on his run defense, but the traits are there for him to become a dangerous, athletic pass rusher at the NFL level. Sanders is someone who could compete for snaps as a rookie before exploding onto the scene after a little additional development.

Well worth the pick here at 38.

Round 2, 40th Overall, NY Jets: Trey McBride, TE, Colorado State (TRADE)

Now we get into those extra second-rounders. And like I said, we put them to good use first adding Colorado State tight end Trey McBride.

McBride is getting legitimate Round 1 buzz and might end up as the top tight end in this class. A monster senior season at Colorado State saw him finish with 86 catches for 1,017 yards in just 11 games.

At 6-foot-4, 260 pounds, McBride moves very well for a man his size and could become a dynamic receiving option as well as a very capable in-line blocker.

His well-rounded skill set gives him the potential to start from day one and could serve as the impetus for the Jets finally having a productive tight end group.

Round 2, 44th Overall, NY Jets: Jahan Dotson, WR, Penn State (TRADE)

I was as surprised as anyone to see Penn State's Jahan Dotson still on the board at this spot. But even after adding Garrett Wilson in the first round, I just couldn't pass on the value here.

Dotson is an explosive, big-play receiver who would give the Jets the vertical threat their offense has been missing. His track background is evident every time he steps on the field, but it's his crafty route-running that provides a foundation for his athleticism to shine through.

A wide receiver room of Garrett Wilson, Jahan Dotson, Elijah Moore, and Corey Davis may seem like overkill to some, but the Jets saw in 2021 that you can never have too many wide receivers.

The Jets need playmakers on offense and providing Wilson with an improved offensive line (Kenyon Green), a new tight end (Trey McBride), and two new potential star wide receivers (Wilson and Dotson) is a home run in my book.

Round 3, 69th Overall, NY Jets: Chad Muma, LB, Wyoming

I'm going to draft Chad Muma every chance I get because he's quickly becoming one of my favorite prospects in this entire class. A true three-down linebacker, Muma has been somewhat overshadowed by the likes of Devin Lloyd and Nakobe Dean.

But make no mistake about it, he has every chance to be just as good for a long time in the NFL. Coming from the same school as Cincinnati Bengals linebacker Logan Wilson, Muma has great size at 6-foot-3, 242 pounds but don't let his size fool you.

The Wyoming star can run with the best of them and might have some of the best short-area quickness in this class. He's a plus run-defender who more than holds his own in coverage and could take over as the Jets' MIKE linebacker of the future.

The Jets experimented with moving C.J. Mosley to WILL in training camp and Muma would be the perfect prospect to come in and assume MIKE duties in the middle of the defense.

Round 3, 91st Overall, NY Jets: Verone McKinley III, S, Oregon (TRADE)

Muma is one of my favorite prospects in this class, but Oregon's Verone McKinley III isn't too far behind either. Much like Muma, I think he's one of the safest prospects in this draft.

While he's a little lanky and might struggle somewhat in run defense, McKinley shines as a defensive playmaker with maybe the best ball skills in this class. The 2021 Consensus All-American finished with six interceptions in 14 games this season and had four more in 2019.

This Jets' defense needs guys who can create turnovers and McKinley's instincts in zone coverage combined with his superb ball skills allow him to do that.

Assuming the Jets let Marcus Maye walk in free agency, McKinley would be an ideal replacement that likely won't require significant draft capital. He's a day-one starter.

Round 4, 108th Overall, NY Jets: Tyler Allgeier, RB, BYU

We go back to the offense here on Day 3 adding a player who Zach Wilson should be very familiar with. Wilson got all the hype at BYU last offseason, but there was a running back by the name of Tyler Allgeier who also broke out rushing for over 1,000 yards.

That same running back carried over that momentum and rushed for an additional 1,600 yards and 23 touchdowns the following season establishing himself as one of the best runners in the country.

At 5-foot-11, 220 pounds, Allgeier is an aggressive and violent runner who excels between the tackles and rarely goes down on first contact. The Draft Network's Damian Parson described him as "a downhill freight train with a pair of quick wheels to change lanes."

Pairing Allgeier with Michael Carter would give the Jets an excellent one-two punch at running back and add yet another weapon to Wilson's disposal, this time in the form of a former teammate.

Round 4, 114th Overall, NY Jets: Jeremy Ruckert, TE, Ohio State

Why just draft one great tight end prospect when you can draft two? Yes, even after adding Trey McBride two rounds earlier, with Ohio State's Jeremy Ruckert still on the board, there was no chance I was going to pass.

Ruckert is a local Long Island product from Lindenhurst High School who has everything the Jets are looking for in a tight end prospect. And right now, I think I'd even prefer him to McBride.

Underused in a stacked Ohio State offense, Ruckert has an absurd catch radius and maybe the best hands in this class. His lack of collegiate production might lead to some scouts overlooking him, but he projects very favorably at the next level.

The Jets manage to add two wide receivers, two tight ends, a starting offensive lineman, and a running back in the same draft. Sign me up.

Round 5, 145th Overall, NY Jets: Kellen Diesch, OT, Arizona State

We decided to go back to the offensive line well here with a more traditional offensive tackle prospect in Arizona State's Kellen Diesch.

The Jets could very well decide to play Kenyon Green at tackle, but Diesch is a very promising late-round developmental tackle prospect who could take over as the team's swing tackle in 2022.

At 6-foot-6, 310 pounds, Diesch has good size and length, although he lacks the raw power to be much more than a backup right now. But with his athletic traits and ready-made pass-block skill set, he projects as someone who could develop into a starter in the right situation.

Think of this as your Chuma Edoga replacement as the Jets get better depth at the tackle position.

Round 5, 162nd Overall, NY Jets: Tyreke Smith, EDGE, Ohio State

Jets head coach Robert Saleh loves having a deep defensive line rotation which is why we finished off this draft with another edge rusher in Ohio State's Tyreke Smith.

Smith is another prospect who I expect to be taken earlier than this, but this is another situation where I wasn't going to pass on the talent. His sack production in college wasn't anything noteworthy, but he's arguably been Ohio State's best pass rusher over the last two seasons.

At 6-foot-4, 265 pounds, Smith has great size for the position with the versatility to line up in either a two or three-point stance. Much like his Ohio State teammate, Jeremy Ruckert, I wouldn't be surprised if Smith was a much more productive player at the NFL level.

He has a bit of an injury history which could cause him to fall a little in the draft, but the traits are more than enough to take a chance on him at this spot.