The national opinion on the New York Jets’ fourth overall pick is changing
Over the past few months, I have published three articles that broke down the national consensus on who the New York Jets will pick in the first round of the 2022 NFL draft. In all three of those (Dec. 27, Jan. 4, and Jan. 30), the Jets were expected to select LSU cornerback Derek Stingley Jr. with the fourth overall pick.
The tide is turning.
In the latest internet consensus mock draft at the website NFL Mock Draft Database – which compiles data from hundreds of mock drafts and big boards from experts across the internet – the Jets have a new favorite in the No. 4 spot.
Based on mock drafts published over the past week (Feb. 10 to Feb. 16), NFL Mock Draft Database has the Jets selecting North Carolina State offensive lineman Ikem Ekwonu with the fourth overall pick. Over this timeframe, Ekwonu was the most commonly-mocked player to New York at No. 4 with 25% of all picks.
At No. 10, the Jets are favored to go with a familiar face: Stingley Jr., who was sent to the Jets in the 10th slot in 22% of mock drafts. Perhaps Jets fans would be more open to the idea of Stingley Jr. – a talented but oft-injured prospect – if he were selected with the 10th pick instead of the fourth.
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Here is NFL Mock Draft Database’s consensus mock draft based on picks made over the past week:
- Jacksonville Jaguars: Evan Neal, OT, Alabama (73% of picks)
- Detroit Lions: Aidan Hutchinson, EDGE, Michigan (62%)
- Houston Texans: Kayvon Thibodeaux, EDGE, Oregon (33%)
- New York Jets: Ikem Ekwonu, OT, North Carolina St. (25%)
- New York Giants: Charles Cross, OT, Mississippi St. (19%)
- Carolina Panthers: Kenny Pickett, QB, Pittsburgh (36%)
- New York Giants: George Karlaftis, EDGE, Purdue (17%)
- Atlanta Falcons: Kyle Hamilton, S, Notre Dame (14%)
- Denver Broncos: Malik Willis, QB, Liberty (22%)
- New York Jets: Derek Stingley Jr., CB, LSU (22%)
Mississippi State tackle Charles Cross and Liberty quarterback Malik Willis are new entries into the top 10 since we last checked up on the consensus, which was Jan. 30. They replace Iowa center Tyler Linderbaum and Mississippi quarterback Matt Corral. In the site’s past-week mock, Lindenbaum is now projected to land in Philadelphia at No. 19 while Corral is projected to land in Washington at No. 11.
