New York may be the city that never sleeps, but it was New York Jets fans on this side of the Atlantic that traded in several hours of shuteye in favour of watching the 2022 NFL Draft last weekend - and it turned out to be a stunning night for the franchise.
Amid speculation the team could commit to a blockbuster trade for San Francisco 49ers wide receiver Deebo Samuel, the Jets landed three of the top eight players on their draft board. They selected Cincinnati cornerback Ahmed ‘Sauce’ Gardner fourth overall, Ohio State receiver Garrett Wilson tenth and Florida State defensive end Jermaine Johnson with the 26th pick following a trade.
The three first selections was the Jets’ biggest haul since they made four first-round picks in 2000, and instead of dealing capital to acquire a veteran, general manager Joe Douglas traded up for the rusher believed by many to be a top-10 pick. As he slipped down the order, the Jets traded a second, third and fifth round pick fo the Tennessee Titans for the 26th overall selection and a third rounder.
