Both New York teams are in the enviable position of having two top-ten picks in Thursday’s first-round of the 2022 NFL Draft. The Jets have made it clear that they are prepared to use their No. 10 overall pick in order to acquire 49ers wide receiver Deebo Samuel, who requested a trade this week.
According to Tony Pauline of Pro Football Network, league sources believe the Jets will use the No. 4 overall pick to address their defense, despite recent chatter that they may be targeting NC State offensive lineman Ikem Ekwonu. Pauline reports that he has heard that “the coaches love Kayvon Thibodeaux, but front office personnel have a lot of concerns.”
Thibodeuax has seen his stock drop since the tail end of the college football season with questionable concerns over his motor and effort. Coaches, though, see his ability and potential and, understandably, want him on their defense.
Here are a few more Draft rumors from Pauline’s article concerning some risers and fallers:
- Pauline claims there’s a 50/50 chance that Georgia linebacker Nakobe Dean goes in the first round. Dean led the National Champion Bulldogs in tackles for loss and was second on the team in both total tackles and sacks. He’s a talented prospect, but teams desire to have the fifth-year option at their disposal for other positions such as cornerback, receiver, or quarterback.
- Dean’s teammate, fellow Georgia linebacker Quay Walker, has been soaring up the boards lately. Like Dean, it’s unlikely Walker hears his name called on Day 1, but it’s looking more and more likely that he won’t last long in the second round of the Draft.
- Michigan safety Daxton Hill has been the consensus second-best safety prospect for all of the offseason. While he’s been rising up boards as teams begin to realize his versatility and ability to play as a free safety, in the box safety, or even over a slot receiver, he’s still unlikely to be selected in the first round. Hill is another player expected to be drafted early into Day 2.
- The top consensus safety prospect on the board, Notre Dame’s Kyle Hamilton, has been dropping in popularity in the days leading up to the Draft. It won’t be enough for him to lose his title as the top-ranked safety over Hill or even enough to drop him out of the first round, but for a player that is consistently considered a top-ten or even top-five prospect in the Draft, this fall is potentially costing him top money. Pauline reports that league sources see Hamilton going around picks 15 to 20.
not all these guys will drop to round 2. many teams see this as a weak draft class so are down on it as a whole but someone has to go in the first round. guys like Dean may be a Pat’s target if they can move down to late 20’s and still get him.
I’m interested how hoodie plays this draft.
I agree. The draft isn’t deep enough to see all of these guys drop to round 2. That said, I firmly believe the Jets go linebacker early 2nd and am hoping either Dean or Walker or someone of that caliber are still there at 36 overall
If Ikwonu is available at four, the Jets need to take him. Two large tackles is a good start to protecting your biggest investment, and would definitely help if they get their WR.
Daxton Hill is going to make a team happy when they select him. He is the safety Swiss army knife.
Jets have made it clear that they’ll surrender no. 10 but really would rather not. Douglas hasn’t spoken at all about this so all of this is bogus anyway. That would be a great way to do business let a source know that you’d give up the 10 so everyone would know it