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2022 NFL Mock Draft: Jets Defense Rebuilt In 3-Round Projection

By Christopher Thomas

BATON ROUGE, LOUISIANA - SEPTEMBER 18: Derek Stingley Jr. #7 of the LSU Tigers warms up prior to a game against the Central Michigan Chippewas at Tiger Stadium on September 18, 2021 in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. (Photo by Sean Gardner/Getty Images)
BATON ROUGE, LOUISIANA - SEPTEMBER 18: Derek Stingley Jr. #7 of the LSU Tigers warms up prior to a game against the Central Michigan Chippewas at Tiger Stadium on September 18, 2021 in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. (Photo by Sean Gardner/Getty Images) /
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2022 NFL Mock Draft, Derek Stingley. (Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images)
2022 NFL Mock Draft, Derek Stingley. (Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images) /

4. New York Jets (via Seattle Seahawks): Derek Stingley Jr., Cornerback, LSU

After all of the additions that the New York Jets made in the offseason, they find themselves picking with the top 10 again. In this 2022 NFL Mock Draft, they pick twice in the top five. The positive that came out of this season is that the Jets have found some young players who can play major roles for the team’s long-term future in this past draft in Alijah Vera-Tucker, Elijah Moore, Michael Carter, and Michael Carter II. Along with continuing to add to this roster, the Jets need to figure out how to get the better output out of head coach Robert Saleh and quarterback Zach Wilson who have disappointed this season despite reasonable expectations.

Unless the New York Jets make a major signing in the offseason Derek Stingley Jr. will be associated with the Jets until draft day. He is the consensus number one cornerback in this draft class and the Jets need a legitimate number-one cornerback on their roster despite the solid production they gave gotten out of the corners on their roster.

Stingley Jr. has missed a majority of the season after having a procedure done on his foot that ended his season. This may be an advantage for the Jets because teams may not want to take a cornerback coming off a major injury, especially after Caleb Farley’s rookie season. Stingley Jr. was the most hyped prospect coming into this season not named Thibodeaux. He is the most hyped cornerback prospect to come out of the draft since Jalen Ramsey was drafted in 2016. When healthy Stingley has been one of the best defensive players in college football.

The New York Jets are aware of what a lockdown cornerback can do for a defense. It wasn’t too long ago that Future Hall of Famer Darrelle Revis had shutdown receivers on a consistent basis for New York. The Jets needs a cornerback they can trust to cover receivers like Stefon Diggs and Jaylen Waddle twice a year. Stingley Jr. would round out a cornerback room with some young players who have looked promising in Bryce Hall and Michael Carter II.

If New York can land a player like Stingley Jr. with the pick they acquired from the Seattle Seahawks then they have easily won the Jamal Adams trade.

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