USAT: Jets Wire audio clip

USAT: Jets Wire

Jan 20, 2022

The Jets have prime real estate in this year’s NFL draft, giving Joe Douglas another opportunity to hit a home run by bringing another wave of potentially elite talent to the Big Apple. - New York currently owns two top 10 picks, Nos. 4 and 10. Douglas made the most of his first-round selections in last year’s draft, landing a potential franchise quarterback in Zach Wilson with the second pick before trading up for Alijah Vera-Tucker, who was the Jets’ best offensive lineman as a rookie. - Douglas’ success with the 2021 NFL draft went far beyond the first round, but starting the draft off on the right foot is arguably the most important part of the entire process. There are only so many opportunities to draft top-end talent. The Jets will once again have multiple chances to get it right as they continue their rebuild. - New York has numerous positions it needs to address this offseason, whether it be in free agency or the draft. Wide receiver, tight end, linebacker, cornerback, safety and the offensive line would all benefit from upgrades. The Jets took steps in the right direction in Robert Saleh’s first year as head coach, but he still needs more to work with. - Douglas has a ton of different ways he can go with the No. 4 pick. New York likely won’t get a chance to draft one of the top two pass rushers in this year’s draft, but if Michigan’s Aidan Hutchinson or Oregon’s Kayvon Thibodeaux fall to No. 4, it will be tough for Douglas to pass up the temptation of selecting them. Addressing the offensive line is a realistic option for Douglas with his first first-round selection, as there are multiple linemen who have a case to go off the board in the top five. - The same goes for the secondary, although that is a more complex situation. Would Saleh want to draft a cornerback at No. 4? Maybe a safety given the level of prospect Notre Dame’s Kyle Hamilton is, but there might not be a need for Saleh to push for a cornerback in his defensive scheme in the top five. Yes, the Jets need to do something at cornerback this offseason, but taking one early in the draft might not be the answer — especially given Derek Stingley Jr.’s injury history. - What the Jets do at No. 4 will directly impact their plans for the 10th pick. Douglas could double up on defense and nobody would blink an eye considering how disappointing the unit was for most of the season. Doubling up on offensive linemen wouldn’t be the sexiest decision in the world, but Wilson needs protection as he continues to progress. - Wide receiver could be the move at No. 10, but that might be reaching — especially if the Jets wind up trading for a true No. 1 wideout before the draft. Tight end won’t be addressed until day two, at the earliest. There are quality options at linebacker in Georgia’s Nakobe Dean and Utah’s Devin Lloyd, but Douglas and his staff will have to determine if it’s worth taking a player at the position in the top 10. Quincy Williams emerged in 2021 and while he’s still a work in progress, his presence might give the Jets reason to look at other positions with the 10th pick. - Trading the No. 10 pick to stockpile additional draft capital is also in play. That would open the door for Douglas to address more needs as the draft progresses instead of doubling down on two top 10 picks. - No matter what New York decides to do, it is in an enviable position entering the draft. The crosstown rival Giants happen to also have two top 10 picks this year, but the chance to land two potential cornerstones in the first 10 picks of the draft does not come around too often. - As a general manager who is known to have a preference for building through the draft, this is what dreams are made of for Douglas. - - List - - How did Robert Saleh compare to other rookie head coaches in 2021? - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Email - - - - - Sign up - - - - - - - - Like this article? - Sign up for the Jets Wire email newsletter to get our top stories in your inbox every morning - - - - An error has occured - - - Please re-enter your email address. - - - - - - Thanks for signing up! - - - You'll now receive the top Jets Wire stories each day directly in your inbox.

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