NFL Draft 2022: 5 teams that won the first round
2. New York Jets
The NFL franchise with the longest current playoff drought picked two players in the first round a year ago. That would be quarterback Zach Wilson (BYU) and guard Alijah Vera-Tucker (Southern Cal).
Once again, New York Jets’ general manager Joe Douglas had a pair of first-round selections entering the evening that turned into three picks. The first and third addressed the league’s 30th-ranked pass defense from a season ago. The latter hopes to provide some help for Wilson.
University of Cincinnati cornerback Ahmad “Sauce” Gardner was the fourth overall selection and should make an immediate impression on a team that gave up an NFL-high 504 points as well as 28 scores through the air. In three seasons with the Bearcats, Gardner finished with a combined nine interceptions (3 each year) and 16 passes defensed. Later, the Jets swung a deal with the Tennessee Titans and were able to add pass-rushing threat Jermaine Johnson II from Florida State.
As for that aforementioned help for Wilson, the Jets used the 10th overall pick to snare Ohio State University wide receiver Garrett Wilson. He comes off a year in which he totaled 70 receptions for 1,058 yards and 12 scores, plus ran for another TD, for the Buckeyes.