New York Jets’ 2022 offseason assets earn lofty praise from ESPN
In listing the NFL’s 32 squads by the quality of their assets for the coming offseason, the Worldwide Leader’s Kevin Seifert put the New York Jets in the runner-up spot, trailing only the Jacksonville Jaguars.
Seifert’s rankings, which relied on outside help when it came to projections of cap concerns and draft happenings that have yet to be fully determined, primarily factored in each team’s positioning on the first round of the draft board and their available cap space.
The Approximate Value sum of the Jets’ draft capital, compiled by Brian Burke of ESPN’s sports data department, stands at 130.4, the fourth-best in the league behind the New York Giants, Philadelphia Eagles, and Jacksonville Jaguars.
In his analysis, Seifert praises the Jets’ ability to turn disgruntled veterans into picks that shot them up his board.
“Trades that shipped out safety Jamal Adams (2020), quarterback Sam Darnold (2021) and tight end Chris Herndon (2021) have left the Jets with four picks in the first two rounds and six in the first four rounds of the 2022 draft,” Seifert writes.
Adams’ deal to Seattle got back two first-round choices (one of which was traded to Minnesota for the chance to selection blocker Alijah Vera-Tucker in last year’s draft), the latter of which lands in the 10th slot in this year’s ledger, six picks after New York’s regularly scheduled selection at No. 4.
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There are many directions the Jets could go with those two top-10 picks. ESPN’s Mel Kiper and Todd McShay had the Jets using the No. 4 pick on LSU cornerback Derek Stingley Jr. in a January mock draft.
In addition to the Seattle deal, general manager Joe Douglas‘ bounty also includes the 38th and 109th picks (brought over from Carolina in the Darnold trade) as well as the 115th (obtained from Minnesota for Herndon). The Jets are also said to be working with just over $50 million in cap space, which currently stands as fifth-best in the NFL.
Seifert does note, however, that the Jets’ windfall should be viewed with caution, especially considering the team’s more recent drafting affairs.
“(The Jets) are in a pretty good position,” Seifert admits. “But after compiling an NFL-worst 27-70 record over the past six seasons, they’ve been here before.”
New York is, by far, the AFC team in whom Seifert bestows the most offseason confidence – the Jets’ brethren from New England, Buffalo, and Miami respectively rank 18th, 19th, and 22nd.
Geoff Magliocchetti is on Twitter @GeoffJMags
