2022 NFL Draft grades for the Buffalo Bills’ AFC East rivals
New York Jets
Round 1, 4th overall: Ahmad “Sauce” Gardner, CB (Cincinnati)
Round 1, 10th overall: Garrett Wilson, WR (Ohio State)
Round 1, 26th overall: Jermaine Johnson, DE (Florida State)
Round 2, 36th overall: Breece Hall, RB (Iowa State)
Round 3, 101st overall: Jeremy Ruckert, TE (Ohio State)
Round 4, 111st overall: Max Mitchell, OT (Louisiana)
Round 4, 117th overall: Michael Clemons, DE (Texas A&M)
The New York Jets entered this year’s draft with two Top 10 picks due to the Jamal Adams trade with the Seattle Seahawks from a few years ago. They were able to address two major needs by drafting Sauce Gardner, who is regarded as one of the best cornerbacks in this year’s class, and wide receiver Garrett Wilson, who has the chance to develop into a number one wide receiver and gives Zach Wilson an excellent weapon.
The Jets weren’t done in the opening round as they would end up trading back into the first round to draft Jermaine Johnson, who had a surprising fall in the first round after being regarded as potentially a Top 10 pick.
Then on Day 2, the New York Jets traded again by moving up in the second round to draft running back Breece Hall. They would round out their class with the selections of Jeremy Ruckert, Max Mitchell, and Michael Clemons.
The New York Jets are a team that had a number of needs but it certainly appears they had the Buffalo Bills on their mind with some of their early picks by adding a cornerback and defensive end with two of their first three picks to try and make life difficult for Buffalo Bills’ quarterback Josh Allen.
In the end, the New York Jets got four players who should start right away as rookies with three players who give them depth at key positions. This was one of the best draft classes in the entire NFL.