Defense is thought to be the top priority for the Jets this offseason, in part because of the team’s struggles on that side of the ball in 2021, but also due to the particular strengths of the upcoming draft class. According to ESPN’s Rich Cimini, the team has a strong interest in Notre Dame safety Kyle Hamilton with the first of their two top-10 picks.
The Jets’ first selection is No. 4, which will give them plenty of options to choose from. As Cimini writes, though, the team is said to “like Hamilton a lot.” The 6-foot-4, 219-pound Golden Domer is seen by some as the top-overall prospect in the class, and has already been linked to New York in the run-up to the draft.
In only seven games in his final college season, Hamilton recorded three interceptions and four pass deflections. Overall, his three years saw him total 138 tackles, eight picks and 16 pass breakups in 31 contests. His combination of production, size, versatility and football IQ have him in line to be one of the most impactful rookies in 2022, especially if he does end up in the Big Apple, considering the Jets ranked second-last in the NFL with seven interceptions last year.
The Jets could experience some trepidation regarding the selection of a safety, given they took the since-departed Jamal Adams sixth overall in 2017. The memory of that process, coupled with the general devaluation of the position, could alternatively steer general manager Joe Douglas towards an edge rusher like Kayvon Thibodeaux to help a pass rush that produced 33 sacks last campaign. A cornerback such as Cincinnati’s Ahmad Gardner could be another option in the secondary. The other prospects, it seems, could have ground to make up behind Hamilton from the Jets’ perspective.
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