Defense is thought to be the top priority for the Jets this offseason, in part because of the team’s struggles on that side of the ball in 2021, but also due to the particular strengths of the upcoming draft class. According to ESPN’s Rich Cimini, the team has a strong interest in Notre Dame safety Kyle Hamilton with the first of their two top-ten picks. 
The Jets’ first selection is No. 4, which will give them plenty of options to choose from. As Cimini writes, though, the team is said to “like Hamilton a lot”. The six-foot-four, 219 pound Golden Domer is seen by some as the top overall prospect in the class, and has already been linked to New York in the run-up to the draft.
In only seven games in his final college season, Hamilton recorded three interceptions and four pass deflections. Overall, his three years saw him total 138 tackles, eight picks and 16 pass breakups in 31 contests. His combination of production, size, versatility and football IQ have him in line to be one of the most impactful rookies in 2022, especially if he does end up in the Big Apple, considering the Jets ranked second-last in the NFL with seven interceptions last year.
The Jets could experience some trepidation regarding the selection of a safety, given they took the since-departed Jamal Adams sixth overall in 2017. The memory of that process, coupled with the general devaluation of the position, could alternatively steer general manager Joe Douglas towards an edge rusher like Kayvon Thibodeaux to help a pass rush that produced 33 sacks last campaign. A cornerback such as Cincinnati’s Ahmad Gardner could be another option in the secondary. The other prospects, it seems, could have ground to make up behind Hamilton from the Jets’ perspective.
Imagine using one of those coveted 1st round picks that you got for shipping out a in the box safety on an In the box safety…. Seems pretty Jetsy to me.
I’m no Jets fan, but I don’t think it’s quite that simple. Adams was both more expensive and not fully committed to the team. Given that the Jets were rebuilding, it made all the sense in the world to trade him; especially since Seattle offered so much
If he’s not an Ed Reed/Sean Taylor type complete safety, the 4th overall is always too rich for a safety. Always. If they want him trade out if the top 5.
People are talking about him at that sort of level, though.
Most mocks have him going in the top 5
Defining Kyle Hamilton as a box safety simply isn’t accurate. He lined up as a deep safety more often than he played in the box every year of college, and last year he also lined up in the slot significantly more than he played as a box safety. He’s a versatile defender with a big emphasis (and great production) on coverage. He’s not Jamal Adams. But also, even if he were, wouldn’t trading Jamal Adams for a cheap Jamal Adams and another first round pick be really smart?
You better be getting a ballhawk if you’re spending a top 5 pick on safety. That’s not Kyle Hamilton.
Even if you’re just going by interceptions, he has 8 in 31 college games.
Kyle Hamilton is totally a ballhawk. 8 INT and 16 PD with a great PFF coverage grade in 31 games is pretty solid production at the college level when teams tried not to throw where he would be.
At the NFL Level he won’t be.
You may be correct, but can you provide insight into why you think so? He has great closing speed and incredible length. In 438 defensive snaps this year, around 350 were either deep safety, in the slot, or at CB, so it’s not like he was really asked to be an in the box guy. He scored a very high PFF grade meaning they thought he was successful in coverage.
He’s not an “in the box safety” at all…
Minor quibble, but if they’re thinking about drafting him at #4, then they’re using their own pick, not one of the ones they received for Adams (#10 overall).
Your quibble is correct, yes.
I mean in the end wasting a draft pick on a box safety doesn’t even mean shot when you wasted your draft capital on Morman Drew Lock. As long as Wilson is the QB, the Jets can draft blue chippers for years and still be looking up from under Josh Allen’s boot heel.
So now you’re just trolling while you double down on your factually incorrect take.
So you believe in Drew Lock 2.0?
Yes, and Hamilton still isn’t an “in the box” safety.
The Jets have so many holes that it should (emphasis *should*) be hard to go wrong in this draft. Secondary, receiver, tackle, and edge rusher look to offer good options with those top two picks. Hamilton makes sense. So do a lot of guys. That defense could use upgrades at all three levels.
A safety! That’ll really help out that crappy offense. Why draft a QB in the top 5 if you’re not going to give him high end help? That doesn’t mean there isn’t any such thing as busts, but why not help out your ‘franchise QB’? Foolish teams do foolish stuff. Parity my backend.
Because it’s not just the offense that needs help. They also have 2 top 10 picks, so they can address both areas
Jets didn’t learn the same mistake of taking Adams that high apparently. Safety is not a position to pay top dollar too when the time comes. Hopefully a pass rusher falls to the NYG.
@mlbnyyfan: I’m hoping for either two offensive linemen or one OL and one pass rusher for the Giants. Jets taking a safety would be awesome.
Why draft a QB that high and not use picks on the O side?It’s a foolish position for any team to take. Call someone your ‘savior’ then not get him help. Happens all the time.
In fact, the Jets did recently. 2018 Darnold to DL, TE, CB, DL and RB. that was 2018’s class for them.
And in 2019 went DT, Edge, OT, TE, LB, and CB.
I’m not saying Darnold was awesome, but give him a chance! Same take w/ the new QB. A safety does nothing to help out the new QB.
A Safety that creates turnovers absolutely helps the QB if he’s giving the QB a short field and greater chance at scoring.
Yeah, one way to help a young QB is to not make him constantly play from behind.
@arty. I agree with you general assertion but it’s interesting to note that Buffalo like the Jets drafted little support for Allen initially going ILB, DT, CB, CB in 2018. The difference is the Bills made some smart trades and FA acquisitions later to compensate.
If Waddle or Chase was in this draft they certainly would use the #4 there
If Jets draft like 2021 they will be in great shape. If they draft like 2020 it’s over for Douglas
Their top four picks were all on offense last year. In the last two drafts, they’ve taken an offensive lineman in the first round and a receiver in the second, plus signing a big ticket receiver in free agency last year. They obviously still need work on both the line and in the pass catching group, but it’s not like they haven’t put high-level resources into Wilson’s supporting cast, and that defense badly needs talent, especially in the secondary. Weird to decry taking a consensus top five player and the consensus top defensive back in the draft.
Their offense was ranked 27th (there about last year). Give the QB help! Shouldn’t be too complicated, but it is for many teams that draft in the top 10 annually. Jags, DC, Lions, Bears, Jets, Fins et al.
Yeah, they should obviously give him more help. But some of it should be development. Some of it should be an experienced backup. Some of it should be a QB coach who doesn’t die right before the season. Some of it should be Becton playing. They can invest more in the offense, but their defense desperately needs more talent and investment, much more than the offense.
And of course, all of this is pending what they do in free agency.
W/O question. The QB’s have to grow. But it’s the franchise’s responsbility to give them player’s, experienced QB’s to lean on, and everything else. I’d hire Fitzmajic just to handle to QB room. Easy check to cut. Show them professionalism, finances, marketing et al.
It’s impossible to guess what top 5-10 QB will be a HoF’er. But when you draft one, run w/ it! A safety does nothing for Zach.
A better defense would hopefully help Wilson a lot by not making him constantly have to play from behind.
‘plus signing a big ticket receiver in free agency last year.’
Who are you referring to here? Jets don’t have any big ticket WRs, who am I forgetting?
Cimini is an idiot, the jets may take Hamilton if he’s there at 10, but not at 4. There is no more clueless reporter covering the NFL than Rich “The Clown” Cimini.
If Thibedeaux is there, you have to take him. The pass rush is awful, I know Lawson is expected back but you don’t know how quickly he recovers from injury and if will be same after the injury. With 10th pick depend s on who is available but if Stingley or Gardner are there you have to jump on one of them. Also need to hit it big in Free Agency. Big season for Jets, no excuses, playoffs or Joe Douglas HE GONE!!!
Expecting the Jets to make the playoffs this year and firing Douglas if they don’t make them is silly. And if you think the pass rush is awful, wait until you see their secondary.
An edge rusher and a WR.
These days there always seems to be WR talent at the top of the second. I know Douglas loves the trenches, but it seems weird to pass up the top CBs or the hands down top safety talent in the draft with both top picks.
Most mocks that I’ve seen have Hamilton going #3 to the Texans. So, he might not even be there ar #4. The Jets are bad all around. They definitely should take the best player available regardless of position.
This would be an awful decision.
not happening. They are going EDGE or WR with #4
I highly doubt any WRs in this class are going top five. With the tenth pick, maybe.