The first round of the 2022 NFL draft is officially in the books as teams prepare for rounds two and three tonight.
There was plenty of action – and plenty of trading – going on during the first round. One team that made a move late in the first round may have sealed the best Day 1 haul: the New York Jets.
Earlier in the first round, the Jets watched arguably the top corner in the draft, Cincinnati’s Ahmad “Sauce” Gardner fall to No. 4. They snatched him up and then waited to select former Ohio State star wide receiver Garrett Wilson with the No. 10 pick.
Those two picks prompted ESPN’s Mel Kiper Jr to praise the first two selections.
“The Jets ended up with my top cornerback (Sauce Gardner) and top receiver (Garrett Wilson) and didn’t have to trade up. Nice night,” he said.
The Jets ended up with my top cornerback (Sauce Gardner) and top receiver (Garrett Wilson) and didn’t have to trade up. Nice night.
— Mel Kiper Jr. (@MelKiperESPN) April 29, 2022
But the Jets weren’t done there. Former Florida State star Jermaine Johnson started to slide in the first round. Once viewed as a potential top-10 pick, Johnson fell into the mid-20’s.
New York didn’t wait, and pounced on a player they were connected to with the No. 10 pick. The Jets traded No. 35, 69 and 163 for Nos. 26 and 101, selecting Johnson with the No. 26 pick.
New York had one of the best first night’s of the draft.
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