If the New York Jets one day become play-off regulars, the 2022 NFL Draft could be a turning point.
Basically, they had two picks in the first round.
They got their fourth overall election due to their 2021 win-loss record.
Meanwhile, the Jets owned the 10th overall pick as part of the Jamal Adams trade with the Seattle Seahawks.
New York cornerback Ahmed “Sauce” has used the fourth pick for Gardner, the 2021 AAC Defensive Player of the Year.
After six picks, the Jets got wide receiver Garrett Wilson, who had 1,058 yards and 12 touchdowns in his final season with the Ohio State Bookies.
As the first round drew to a close, the Jets traded the Tennessee Titans for a 26th pick and selected Florida State defensive end Jermaine Johnson.
These players can become building blocks for successful runs in a few seasons.
More importantly, the Jets locked them in after signing their rookie contract.
Gardner, Wilson and Johnson have all done it. There will be no first round contract dispute for the training camp. https://t.co/zhNca5dcjS
– RichCimini (RichCimini) May 18, 2022
Gardner has signed a four-year, $ 38.7 million full-guaranteed deal with a $ 25.3 million signing bonus.
That deal is more than his cornerback Derek Stingley Jr. ($ 34.6 million) received from Houston Texans.
Wilson, meanwhile, agreed to a four-year, 20.55 million deal.
Finally, Johnson signed a four-year, 13 million contract.
Since these are all first-round picks, the Jets also have the privilege of practicing a fifth-year alternative on them.
Training camps for Gardner, Wilson and Johnson
ESPN’s Rich Simini makes a good point by saying that being under their contract means there will be no contract disputes.
As a result of these negotiations, players will not be able to attend training camps until an agreement is reached.
Signing their rookies early means they can focus on learning team systems.
Attending the entire training camp will help accelerate their development.