By Dom C.
Well, well, well look what we have here. If it isn’t the most important position in the 2022 NFL draft, the most bantered-about set of athletes, the most pressing need for our own NY Jets – the edge rushers.
It may have taken a dozen articles or so to get to them, but we did – and boy, do we got a lot to say. Not only about the edge prospects – which there are so, so many that we could discuss in this deep class- but about the state of the edge position as it stands now with Gang Green.
It is the talk of the town in the 2022 NFL draft. With the premiere picks we hold in the 1st round, it’s a position that is most definitely to be addressed.
The NY Jets lacked a true playmaker at the edge last season. The position is what the Salah/Ulbrich defense really thrives off of and is dependent upon. We need pressure that is generated with the front four. That starts with the guys on the end of the defensive line.
The rebuild of the pass rush started last year. We then unfortunately witnessed the achilles tear that trumped all other achilles tears when Carl Lawson went down in the pre-season.
The season started right off with a gut punch – one that the defensive line was just unable to recover from. His return to health this year is like an oasis in the dreary desert of futility we lived through in 2021.
I have the utmost confidence that Lawson will resume his duties as one of the best producers of pressure from the edge in all of the NFL.
John Franklin-Meyers stepped up and took over the role as the alpha on the edge for the Jets. JFM was involved in a big play every so often. But more or less, he was the steadying force on a very unstable boat that we called edge rush.
His 80.4 PFF score was 12 rated out of all edge rushers in the NFL , the highest rating out of all Jets defenders. It’ll be nice to see what he can do from the opposite side. Or even better, rushing from the interior next to Q in passing downs.
Bryce Huff took very positive strides in year two. He looked like he could really develop into a formidable rotation piece. He is going to have to stay healthy to see that come to fruition.
The Jets brought in young pass rush specialist Jacob Martin from Houston. He is a player that everyone seems to have some buzz about. He produced when he saw the field in Houston, albeit in a limited fashion.
After that, there is not much to write home about. We signed Bradlee Anae from the Cowboys as a developmental player. Tim Ward and Jabari Zuniga are still hanging around. But they seem to be nothing more but depth pieces at the moment.
All in all, very meh. It is a clear and evident need that JD and the squad need to address in the 2022 NFL draft. And I’m sure they will. The $1,000,000 question is – with who?
We know the two big names of the class: Aiden Hutchinson and Kavon Thibodeaux. I’d be elated to have either of them. But more than likely they both will be off the board by the time our pick at #4 comes around. So, if not Hutch or KT, then who?
We are going to break down four players in the 2022 NFL draft that are clearly in play for the Jets at either #4 or at #10 (if the Jets still choose at those respective picks come draft day). Knowing that edge is a need, which way do we go?
Let’s throw a curveball into the edge analysis. Instead of breaking down an early guy, a couple of mid-round finds, and a deep sleeper, let’s dive a little deeper into the best of the rest at edge. It sure looks like one of our first-rounders is heading this way. Let’s see the fits for our Gang Green in the 2022 NFL draft.
Jermaine Johnson: EDGE Rusher, Florida State
My #3 edge in the class is 23-year-old Jermaine Johnson. He may not be #3 on everyone’s board, but what he brings to the table in regard to a high floor with both stability against the run and pass rush effectiveness solidifies it for me.
Johnson stands 6’5’’ and weighs in at 255 pounds with a 7 ½ foot wingspan. That’s a big boy. Johnson showed off at the Senior Bowl. He was such a force to be reckoned with during the practices that he bowed out of the game. He had nothing more really to prove.
Johnson dominated at FSU. He lined up all over the field from 5-tech to 9-tech, even on his feet in pass coverage at times. He produced 70 total tackles, 17.5 TFL’s and 11.5 sacks last year.
A renowned JUCO transfer (you can see the young Jermaine Johnson highlighted in season 2 of the Netflix series Last Chance U). he spent some time at the University of Georgia where he was a backup/role player before transferring to FSU for his senior season.
He has enough “get off” to succeed in the NFL on the edge – timed at 4.58 in the forty. Johnson uses the length he possesses along with a constant motor and an array of rush/counter moves to help him gain an advantage in passing situations.
He is very savvy. He can set up the blocker well. And he is able to transfer from plan A to B to C very quickly and adeptly when needed.
Being as tall and thin-framed as he needs tobe, he uses his long arms to keep and shed would-be blockers.
He has so-so bend – not the best in the class, but for sure not the worst. There were definitely times on film when he was swallowed up by a bigger, stronger lineman. He can get better at avoiding/disengaging with blockers.
Johnson moves extremely well side-to-side and plays exceptionally well in space for a big man. This is something that will allow teams to play him on his feet in certain sets.
His bread and butter at the next level will be the job he does against the run. Being such a cerebral defender, he always knows what the offense is doing. He reads his keys well and plays with exceptional anticipation. He is very stout at the point of attack and is a sound tackler.
No matter the situation or the formation, Johnson brings energy and is always around the ball – a trait you really like to see in a young player.
He is a tick older than some might like (will be 24 as the 2022 regular season starts) and with only marginal bend/flexibility, some will move him down their board.
I think that the good in Johnson outweighs the bad. I see a player with a strong mindset, energy, and devotion to his trade. Always looking to be better on the next rep. Johnson is a player that does not have to leave the field no matter the defensive set or situation.
My best guess is that we would have to secure him with our #4 pick if we wanted him . With teams coveting pass rushers picking after us (Giants, Falcons, Seahawks), the chances of him slipping to #10 in the NFL draft are low.
I comp him to Maxx Crosby of the Raiders. I think he can take the same career trajectory and be a star in this league within the next few years. His future is definitely bright.
Travon Walker: Edge Rusher, Georgia
As we said in the blurb earlier, Jermaine Johnson transferred from UGA to FSU for his senior year to get more runs and show off his impressive talents. His replacement at Georgia: Travon Walker.
Travon, the #2 recruit in the country in 2019 (as an interior defensive lineman) is just one of a possible 8 Georgia defensive players that will hear their name called in the 2022 NFL draft.
Let me say this, there is nobody whose name is skyrocketing up the board like Travon Walker.
The athleticism that he brings to the table at 6’5’’ 275 pounds is damn near unheard of. With a 40-yard dash time of 4.51 (faster than Traylon Burks) a broad jump of 10’5’’ (longer than Isaiah Spiller) and a 3-cone drill time of 6.89 (quicker than Jalen Pitre) you can clearly see why he is skyrocketing up the boards. Teams will be salivating to take the chance on the athletic profile that he brings to the table at 275 pounds.
Very long with an extremely strong lower body and above average bend for a big man – he checks all the boxes for your prototypical edge in the NFL. He is strong enough that he can control blockers. He can shed them with ease. Being that fast-twitch type of athlete, has a very good first step where he usually gains an advantage right from the get-go.
He has played up and down the line. But he will most likely line up as a 5-tech. Maybe even standing up in certain situational packages. Dominant against the run using his lower half to anchor and strong hands to punch and shed blockers. Adequate tackler.
The versatility that you get with Walker is unparalleled by any other edge player in the class. So, what gives? Why is Walker not in the same conversations as Hutch and KT?
Three major factors:
1) he is still developing as a pass rusher. Needs to really learn how to counter rush and hand fight better to gain the edge. Doesn’t show on tape enough brute power-rushing technique either – he beat SEC opponents with sheer athleticism. Good to see but will not get him too far in the NFL.
2) An overall lack of production in college. His athleticism flashed for sure, but the production was hit or miss. 2021 he only totaled 33 tackles, 7.5 TFLs and 6 sacks. He was consistently outshined by his UGA counterparts – Davis, Wyatt, Tindall, Dean, and more. Having that much start power on one defense may be the reason. But it also gave him ample opportunity to see 1-on-1 matchups which he didn’t always take advantage of.
3) The motor is not always running at 100%. Walker gets lost in plays at times – looking as if he just takes plays off. Does not trail or pursue plays that run opposite end of him. In pass sets, if he doesn’t win on his first go, he tends to give up, stay home, and obstruct the passing lanes.
The hype is no doubt real with Walker in the 2022 NFL draft. There may be a chance that Detroit at #2 or Houston at #3 will fall in love with his athleticism and snag him. Although for me, not nearly at the tier of Hutch/KT or even JJ, it would be hard for the Jets to pass on a talent like Walker if he was on the board at #4. He brings some stuff that you can’t coach, and he can fix some of the faults that you can.
George Karlaftis: EDGE, Purdue
If you earned the nickname “The Greek Freak”, you’re doing something right in life. Well, meet George Karlaftis – who learned very quickly and extremely well how to play football right.
As a 3-year starter at Purdue, he got exponentially better each year – which is always a plus. GK offers ridiculous potential and will have some ways to provide value early on in his career while he still continues to develop.
He already has enough size, explosiveness, and run/pass versatility to influence a defense. At 6’3’’ and 270 pounds and a motor like the Energizer Bunny, there is not a lot that you dislike in his game. GK has the makings of an elite-level power rusher in the NFL.
Relying on super-strong hands and a punch that stops linemen in their tracks along with a strong base and anchor, he can set the edge & hold his own in run defense. He has a bevy of hand-fighting techniques with a mean bull-rush with both his hands on the ground. From his feet, he offers a large win rate when rushing the passer as well.
His lightning-quick first step and ability to get skinny allow him to cut tight corners on the rush and in stunts.
In terms of athleticism, he falls below some of the aforementioned edge rushers in the class. He’s a little stiffer and just isn’t as twitchy an athlete as Walker, KT, or Hutch. He also doesn’t check all the boxes in regard to prototypical height/length for a prospect. Unfortunately, you can’t coach length.
For a guy who is on more of the “smaller” size, he tends at times to play with too high of a pad level. This plus being burdened with shorter arms than normal for the position hinders him at times.
The one thing that I see as you watch the tape is the energy that he brings. It rubs off on his teammates and is electric, to say the least.
I fully expect GK to hear his name in the top 20 of the first round. It would be an ideal fit opposite of Carl Lawson if the Jets decided to pass on edge at #4 and select it at #10 or with a trade down later in the first round.
The skill set that GK brings to the table is very reminiscent of Carl Lawson – a guy whose worth may not show up as strong in counting stats but more on the analytical stage with QB pressures and disrupted pass plays.
I can see GK developing into a top-tier edge presence within his first 2 to 3 years in the league and would help reestablish that buzz that seemed to have been missing last season.
Boye Mafe: EDGE, Minnesota
Lastly, we are going to discuss another highly athletic and versatile weapon in this draft class: Minnesota Golden Gopher, Boye Mafe.
Mafe has a dense, powerful frame giving him impressive play strength at the point of attack. He is able to explode out of his stance with a truly impressive first step. And his play strength allows him to deliver a good jolt to blockers and drive them back on their heels.
Mafe plays with good leverage and has the ability to set a firm edge in run defense. Standing 6’4 and weighing 261 pounds, he isn’t easily moved off the ball. He flashes the ability to make plays on ball carriers off of blockers.
He shows above-average power and speed moves as a pass rusher. His first step puts stress on pass protectors, and he has the upside to consistently generate pressure at the next level.
Mafe is also surprisingly effective in coverage. He shows good awareness in coverage zones and also has quick feet and fluid hips in coverage. This allows him to match up with tight ends and running backs in space.
Mafe has very good long speed (4.51 in the 40), which allows him to run downfield with offensive players.
Mafe’s upside as a pass rusher is currently limited by his technique. While he shows flashes of good hand usage, he is far from a technician at this point in his development. Likewise, he doesn’t seem to rush with a ready countermove and rarely seems to come up with a plan.
His athletic prowess has offered him the ability to win at the college level but standing on that alone in the NFL will ultimately limit his production. Combined with his less-than-ideal arm length, Mafe can wind up tangled up with blockers and struggle to disengage in time to affect the play.
He also shows some stiffness when trying to bend the corner as a pass rusher – especially for someone who grades out as athletically as he does.
Boye Mafe’s best role to start in the NFL may be scheme-specific – a designated pass rusher in nickel or dime sets as he still learns how to plan his attack at the edge – a trajectory very similar to that of new Jets pass rush specialist Jacob Martin.
Lined up mostly on his feet in college as a stand-up OLB, there will be some extra reps and coaching needed for him to fully transition to playing with his hand in the dirt.
If edge was passed over for the Jets at both #4 and #10 in the 2022 NFL draft, I could easily get down with the idea of trading back up into the late first to target a guy like Boye Mafe. He’s a little more developmental than the other 3 prospects we discussed but does have a sky-high ceiling. Athletes of his type tend to affect the game – Boye Mafe is a guy on want on my side.
Final Thoughts
There you have it. There’s the rundown on possibly the most important position that the New York Jets will need to address in the 2022 NFL draft. I can’t express how excited I am. I’m not sure how much everyone truly understands the impact that our top 5 picks have in this rebuild. This may end up being the most influential draft in Jets history. And it will be centered around the edge position.
The future looks bright and I’m a real believer.
How dark it was before the dawn…Let’s go Jets…