Tag: Jets Draft

4 takeaways from the Jets’ pre-draft press conference

New York Jets GM Joe Douglas fielded questions ahead of the 2023 NFL draft. Here are four takeaways from the press conference.

One of the ways to make a splash in the NFL draft is to do so the Monday of draft week.

That is precisely what the New York Jets did as they agreed to terms with the Green Bay Packers to send Aaron Rodgers to the Big Apple.

Jets general manager Joe Douglas anchored the team’s pre-draft press conference Tuesday, and spoke of a “positive energy” at One Jets Drive following the trade.

“I can speak to upstairs where we were with football operations and all the scouts, all the coaches, there were some high fives and hugs and a lot of excitement,” Douglas said.

Here are some takeaways from Douglas’ presser.

2022 NFL draft: New York Jets undrafted free agent tracker

Keep up with the Jets’ activity in the undrafted free agent market following the 2022 NFL draft:

The 2022 NFL draft is officially closed for business, but Joe Douglas and the Jets are far from done adding to their roster.

With the conclusion of this year’s draft comes the additions of undrafted free agents, a market New York will explore. Isaiah Dunn and Kenny Yeboah received lucrative undrafted free agent contracts last offseason. Could Douglas hand out a similar deal or two again this year?

Here is a tracker for all of the undrafted free agents the Jets sign. Check back for updates as more signings come in.

Note: * indicates an invitation to rookie minicamp on a tryout basis.

4 defensive tackles Jets could target in 2022 NFL draft

These four defensive tackles could pique the Jets’ interest, starting with the second day of the 2022 NFL draft:

The Jets are in good shape at defensive tackle entering 2022 — even after Foley Fatukasi left in free agency. Quinnen Williams has continued to develop under Robert Saleh and Sheldon Rankins is returning for the final year of his contract, giving New York two veterans it can count on.

None of that means the Jets will ignore the defensive tackle position in this year’s draft, though. Williams is locked into the starting lineup, but Rankins has battled injuries throughout his career and will be a free agent at the end of next season. That could lead Joe Douglas to target his replacement later this month.

Defensive tackle is not a major position of need for the Jets, which means Georgia DT Jordan Davis is highly unlikely to land in the Big Apple. The same goes for his teammate, Devonte Wyatt. Both have first-round grades and New York simply isn’t going to target the position that high.

Here are four defensive tackles the Jets could target beginning on day two of the draft, though.

2022 NFL draft: Jets trade for extra first-round pick, land WR in new Draft Wire mock

Draft Wire has the Jets trading for a third first-round pick and taking a wide receiver in a new mock draft.

The beginning of free agency went a long way in shaping the Jets’ plans for the 2022 NFL draft.

Joe Douglas addressed needs on both sides of the ball during the first week of free agency. There is still plenty of work to be done, though, and the draft is the best time for New York to fill its remaining holes.

Draft Wire’s latest mock draft has the Jets trading back into the tail end of the first round to get Zach Wilson a potentially dynamic weapon. New York’s two top 10 picks, meanwhile, are used on getting Wilson more protection and shoring up the secondary.

Let’s take a closer look at who Draft Wire has the Jets selecting next month.

Jets Wire’s 2022 NFL Mock Draft 1.0: The combine is here

Our first mock draft of the offseason has the Jets landing two elite players from blue blood programs.

The Super Bowl and the 2022 NFL campaign are in the books and mock draft season is in full swing.

With that, we at Jets Wire are joining in on the craze with this year’s draft combine beginning Thursday.

Some of the top prospects in the 2022 NFL draft have elected not to participate in combine workouts, but interviews will be conducted and teams around the league will get a sense of who this year’s top crop of prospects are as players and people.

The Jets are in prime position to enjoy a successful first round of the draft with the 4th and 10th picks in their possession. New York has holes to fill on both sides of the ball and Joe Douglas could go in a bunch of different directions with those selections. Douglas also has multiple second-round picks at his disposal thanks to the Sam Darnold trade.

With that being said, let’s take a look at who we think the Jets will take in April’s draft.

2022 NFL draft: Jets trade pick to Steelers in latest CBS Sports mock

CBS Sports’ latest mock draft has the Jets moving back 10 spots in the first round and trading the 10th pick to the Steelers.

Robert Saleh’s first season as Jets head coach featured some steps in the right direction, but New York still finished dead last in the AFC East and concluded 2021 without a single win in divisional play.

The good news for the Jets is that hope always springs eternal during the offseason. Free agency and the draft are prime opportunities to add talent and New York is positioned to do just that in this year’s draft. Gang Green currently owns two top 10 picks at Nos. 4 and 10, giving Joe Douglas the chance to land two potentially elite talents to serve as centerpieces for his rebuild.

In its latest mock draft, CBS Sports has Douglas sending the 10th pick to the Steelers, who in turn select Liberty quarterback Malik Willis. The hypothetical trade leaves the Jets to draft a wide receiver who likely would have gone higher if not for an injury at No. 20.

Let’s take a closer look at who CBS Sports has New York picking in the first round of the 2022 NFL draft.

2022 NFL draft: Jets take defensive approach in Draft Wire’s latest 3-round mock

Four of the Jets’ first five picks in the 2022 NFL draft are used on defense in Draft Wire’s latest three-round mock.

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Robert Saleh’s first season as Jets head coach featured some steps in the right direction, but New York still finished dead last in the AFC East and concluded 2021 without a single win in divisional play.

The good news for the Jets is that hope always springs eternal during the offseason. Free agency and the draft are prime opportunities to add talent and New York is positioned to do just that in this year’s draft. Gang Green currently owns two top 10 picks at Nos. 4 and 10, giving Joe Douglas the chance to land two potentially elite talents to serve as centerpieces for his rebuild.

Draft Wire has the Jets focusing on defense in its latest three-round mock draft. Four of New York’s first five picks are projected to be defensive players, with all levels of the defense being addressed.

Let’s take a closer look at who Draft Wire has the Jets picking during the first two days of the 2022 NFL draft.

Double Trouble? Michael Carter, Michael Carter II teaming up with Jets

Two players with the same name are taking their talents to One Jets Drive with the 2021 NFL draft in the books.

There are now two Michael Carters residing at One Jets Drive.

New York landed two players with the same name on the third and final day of the 2021 NFL draft. First the Jets selected North Carolina running back Michael Carter with the 107th pick. Then they made Duke cornerback Michael Carter II the 154th pick.

The two Carters went from college rivals to NFL teammates in a matter of minutes and were quick to laugh about their quirky draft connection.

New York’s selection of Carter II after Carter sparked widespread confusion on social media, as two players of the same name in the same draft class being picked by the same team is essentially unheard of. ESPN mixed the two up long before Carter II was picked by the Jets, though. They showed Duke highlights when New York selected the UNC running back with the second pick of the fourth round.

“We were like, ‘Whoa, whoa, wait a minute. Check the notes and make sure we got the right pick,'” Robert Saleh said of the gaffe, per ESPN’s Rich Cimini. “Lucky for us, Michael II ended up falling to us.”

While they carry the same name, Carter and Carter II bring vastly different skill sets with them to the Big Apple. Carter specializes in making game-breaking plays out of the backfield, while Carter II thrives in thwarting them from his nickel cornerback position.

Carter got the best of Carter II when North Carolina met Duke last season, though, as Carter trucked through Carter II for a touchdown in what can be deemed a Carter on Carter crime.

Regardless of who won the battle of the Carters in college, the Jets are hoping both players can make an impact as soon as next season. With both Carter and Carter II possessing dynamic ability, there is no reason why that can’t come to fruition.

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2021 NFL draft: New York Jets undrafted free agent tracker

Jets Wire keeps you updated with all of New York’s activity in the undrafted free agent market.

The 2021 NFL draft is now officially closed for business, but Joe Douglas and the Jets are far from done making moves to bolster their roster.

With the conclusion of this year’s draft comes the additions of undrafted free agents, a market New York will certainly explore after a busy three days of selections.

Here is a tracker for all of the undrafted free agents the Jets sign. Check back for updates as more signings come in.

Jets pick Pittsburgh CB Jason Pinnock with 175th pick in 2021 NFL draft

The Jets continued to upgrade their secondary on the third day of the 2021 NFL draft, selecting Pittsburgh cornerback Jason Pinnock.

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The Jets continued to address their secondary with their third pick of the fifth round, selecting Pittsburgh cornerback Jason Pinnock with pick No. 175.

Pinnock registered 19 pass deflections and six interceptions throughout his collegiate career. 2020 was Pinnock’s best season at Pittsburgh, as he made 20 tackles to go along with five pass deflections and three interceptions in nine games. Pinnock also deflected seven passes as a junior in 2019 and six as a sophomore in 2018.

Listed at 6-foot and 204 pounds, Pinnock has above average speed for his position and an impressive vertical at 39.5 inches. He plays physically at the line of scrimmage and uses his length to his advantage downfield, but could stand to benefit from improving his play recognition and awareness. Nonetheless, Pinnock has the potential to develop into a solid outside cornerback and can also contribute on special teams.

Pinnock will join a cornerback room currently consisting of Bless Austin, Corey Ballentine, Kyron Brown, fellow rookie Michael Carter II, Javelin Guidry, Bryce Hall, Justin Hardee, Lamar Jackson, and Zane Lewis.

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