NFL Draft Trade Proposal: Jets Trade Up With Bengals, Pick Tyler Linderbaum in First Round
All signs point toward the Jets making some sort of trade in the first round of the 2022 NFL draft.
New York could trade back with the No. 10 pick, recouping some capital while finding value later in the first.
They could also use that pick to acquire a top wide receiver, if another one becomes available this offseason.
There's another option, though. With plenty of picks after the first round, New York could move up and add a third prospect on Day 1 of the 2022 NFL draft.
That's exactly what ESPN's NFL draft guru Mel Kiper Jr. predicted in his latest mock draft.
First, let's take a look at who Kiper thinks general manager Joe Douglas and the Jets will pick with the No. 4 and No. 10 selections. Then we'll walk through Kiper's mock trade—with the Cincinnati Bengals—before dipping into Kiper's second-round takes.
2022 NFL Mock Draft (Via ESPN's Mel Kiper Jr.)
4. New York Jets: Kayvon Thibodeaux, DE, Oregon
10. New York Jets (via SEA): Drake London, WR, USC
Projected Trade: Jets Move Up For a Center
31. New York Jets (via mock trade with CIN): Tyler Linderbaum, C, Iowa
35. Cincinnati Bengals (via mock trade with NYJ): Kaiir Elam, CB, Florida
38. New York Jets (via CAR): Breece Hall, RB, Iowa State
The first two picks for the Jets in this mock are pretty common predictions. Odds are Kayvon Thibodeaux is available for New York at No. 4, a pass rusher that's poised to excel on Gang Green's defensive line, working under head coach Robert Saleh.
Sure, there's a chance the Jets could pick tackles Ikem Ekwonu and Evan Neal or safety Kyle Hamilton—who are all available at four in this scenario—but Thibodeaux profiles as a great fit. In this case, they never had a chance to pick Cincinnati cornerback Ahmad Gardner as he came off the board at No. 2, going to the Detroit Lions.
From there, the Jets snag a top receiver. Garrett Wilson is off the board (going to the Falcons at No. 8) but Drake London brings playmaking ability to New York's wide receiver room.
Next is Kiper's mock trade. Using selection No. 35 and a Day 3 pick, Douglas gets back into the first round to inject more young talent onto this offensive line. Whether Tyler Linderbaum is the next Nick Mangold or not, he addresses another need for the Jets as they continue to build protection up front.
If Mekhi Becton can figure things out at tackle and Alijah Vera-Tucker continues to shine at guard, New York would instantly have one of the best young trios up front in the game.
In the second round, after Cincinnati uses the 35th overall pick to draft Florida corner Kaiir Elam, the Jets add running back Breece Hall from Iowa State. Hall and Michael Carter can form a dynamic duo in the backfield in green and white.
That in mind, and with a boatload of picks left in the draft to do even more damage, New York would enter Round 3 with a high-upside EDGE and three weapons surrounding young quarterback Zach Wilson.
MORE:
- Ex-Jets Scout Explains Why New York Should Pick Breece Hall in 2022 NFL Draft
- Ex-Jets Scout: New York Must Trade For Deebo Samuel
- Can the Jets Afford to Take a Risk on Perrion Winfrey?
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