1. San Francisco 49ers

San Francisco is mainly talked about for their Kyle Shanahan scheme, or their electric play makers like Deebo Samuel, Christian McCaffrey and Brandon Aiyuk. But one of the big reasons they have made it back to the Super Bowl is the star studded defense.

A group led by Nick Bosa and Fred Warner has measured at the top of the league in nearly every important defensive statistic. With 48 sacks last year ranking 7th this group also has multiple playmakers in the secondary like Talanoa Hufanga. The combination of amazing scheme and even better talent makes this group the best in the league.

2. New York Jets

The Jets have had a good group for years but this one in particular could be great. Losing Bryce Huff hurts the pass rush but with Jermaine Johnson’s improvement and the secondary being at the top of the league, I  wouldn’t be too worried. The main guys leading this defensive squad is cornerbacks D.J. Reed and Sauce Gardner. 

3. Kansas City Chiefs

The reigning Super Bowl champions are once again projected to have an elite defense. Losing L’Jarius Sneed is a blow, but Trent McDuffie and company is more than enough to handle it. Not to mention Chris Jones was resigned and is more ready than ever to get to work.

This unit was dominant last year, losing Willie Gay Jr. and Sneed might lead to some growing pains. As long as Chris Jones and Trent Mcduffie remain on the field, this unit should be fine.

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The Good

Sauce Gardner was a generational talent coming out of the University of Cincinnati. He was a can’t-miss prospect who showed traits to be a lock-down corner in the NFL. The question wasn’t if Gardner would be an elite-level cornerback it was when. Most draft evaluators agreed that it would take Gardner a couple of years to get to that level. It took less than a year to realize that Gardner is one of the best cornerbacks in the league already. The former 4th overall pick was named Defensive Rookie of the Year along with making it to the All-Pro team. It’s one of the more impressive rookie seasons we have seen at that position.

Gardner and fellow cornerback D.J. Reed have quickly become one of the best corner duos in the NFL. The Jets defense in general was one of the best in the league in 2022. They were tied for the league lead in allowed yards per attempt last season. This defense will once again be the strength of this team as it looks to cement itself as one of the greats.

The Bad

When you bring in a superstar quarterback like Aaron Rodgers your number one goal should be to protect him. Rodgers will be 40 in December and doesn’t have the escapability he used to. I think we can all agree on this point which is why it’s perplexing that the Jets didn’t invest more in this offensive line. As it currently stands this o-line has major question marks, especially at the tackle position. Mekhi Becton will start at RT after missing all of last season and Duane Brown is an aging LT. It’s not a great setup and when Rodgers agreed to take a pay cut I thought they would use the money to sure up the OL.

The Prediction

This Jets team will be entertaining at the very least. If you watched Hard Knocks you can see how big an impact Aaron Rodgers has already had on this franchise. The problem is the offensive line will cause issues all season and Rodgers could quickly lose his patience. It will be fascinating to see how this plays out.

2023 Record: (8-9 3rd in the Division)

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The 2023 NFL Draft once again featured some top defensive talent in the first round. While we did see more quarterbacks go earlier than in the previous draft we also saw several difference-makers on the defensive side. In the 2022 NFL Draft, the first 5 picks were all defensive players and they all made a significant impact. Sauce Gardner ended up winning the 2022 NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year and rightfully so. Can another cornerback win the award this year? Let’s break down some of the key candidates.

Devon Witherspoon – CB (Seattle Seahawks)

Witherspoon was the first cornerback taken in the 2023 NFL Draft and he went to a great situation. Head coach Pete Carroll is known to develop young defensive talent and turn them into stars. Unfortunately, Witherspoon has dealt with a hamstring injury for much of training camp which has dampened his buzz. Make no mistake though when he comes back healthy, he will be a stud for Seattle.

Current Odds: +1000

Tyree Wilson – EDGE (Las Vegas Raiders)

Like Witherspoon, Tyree Wilson is also dealing with an injury to start his rookie season. Wilson is an athletic freak at the EDGE position and has the tools to be an elite pass rusher. The thought of him lined up opposite Maxx Crosby is frightening for opposing offenses. I see 5+ sacks for Wilson in his first season for the Raiders.

Current Odds: +1000

Will Anderson Jr. – EDGE (Houston Texans)

If the Chicago Bears didn’t trade out of the first pick they would’ve selected Will Anderson. Anderson is another stud defensive player from the University of Alabama. He was a dominant force in the SEC totaling 27.5 sacks in his last two seasons. Anderson is not only an elite pass rusher but he is also an excellent run defender. Along with his sacks he had 152 total tackles in his Sophomore and Junior seasons. Anderson Jr. is the most pro-ready prospect from this draft and he will get 10+ sacks this year.

* Our Pick – Current Odds: +400

Jalen Carter – DL (Philadelphia Eagles)

Somehow Jalen Carter fell to the Eagles in the 2023 NFL Draft. Carter is another stud SEC defender who was dominant at Georgia. The off the field issues are a concern but if Carter can stay out of trouble he will make a big impact in Philly. Pairing him with one of the top defenses in 2022 seems almost unfair. I could see Carter starting when the season begins.

Current Odds: +700

Emmanuel Forbes Jr. – CB (Washington Commanders)

Emmanuel Forbes was a turnover machine for Mississippi State. He broke the all-time record for pick-sixes with 6 during his college career. The tall and lanky cornerback plays much bigger than his size and is more than willing to make a tackle when needed. Forbes will get plenty of chances to make his mark as he is expected to start for the Commanders in week 1. Expect to see 5 interceptions for Forbes in his rookie season.

Current Odds: +2000

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By: Jake Rajala

The New York Jets play with a heap of confidence under their Vin Diesel-like head coach, Robert Saleh. The Jets may have been a rotten apple last season with their 4-13 record, but I believe they have a lot of promising profiles coupled with an energetic HC. It’s fun to romanticize the potential of Zach Wilson (and maybe Joe “cool’ Flacco) and his toys on offense, but the Jets defense honestly shouldn’t be in the shadow.

I still won’t sugarcoat how pathetic the Jets defense was a season ago. The Jets allowed the fourth-most rushing yards and the third-most passing yards. It was clear that a Christmas miracle or first three-quarters of play-calling by Gregg Williams couldn’t save their defense.

Well, I believe the tides have turned for the Jets defense moving forward. Sauce Gardner was a genius pick-up by the NYJ and he certainly looked ready to shut-down opponents in pre-season. Gardner is even slotted as the second-best rookie on CBS Sports pre-season rookie rankings.

The CB from Cincinnati won’t hog all of the fun in 2022, however. The Jets have a highly-motivated Quinnen Williams, Solomon Thomas (who played under Robert Saleh in SF), and a healthy Carl Lawson (who unfortunately missed the entire 2021 season). The Jets pass-rush should be a mean, green fighting machine moving forward.

It was a sneaky move by the Jets to also bring in another former defender under Saleh in Kwon Alexander. The former Saints LB stole the spotlight in pre-season by knocking a running back’s pig skin (and teeth out). Alexander and CJ Mosley, who could both have a role as Amleth in The Northman, are one of the NFL’s most underrated LB tandems (despite their age).

It’s easy to anticipate growth from the vast majority of units on teams, but I undoubtedly believe the Jets defense will take positive steps forward in the upcoming season. They have insane, young talents & they will welcome key assets with new-found health. If Saleh struggles to oust several victories but is able to ignite his defense to take positive leaps forward, he could also keep the keys to the team in 2023.

The post What to expect from the New York Jets defense in 2022 appeared first on Pro Football Mania.

By: Jake Rajala

The New York Jets were worse than the Sharknado movie in 2021. With that said, there is one player that has drastically brought more energy and hope to the Jets this off-season: CB Ahmad Gardner. The Jets 2022 first-round pick has completely erased opposing wideouts in pre-season & obtained pick-sixes in training camp. With that said, I’m going to untwine three reasons Gardner could win DROY.

*The last DROY winner for the Jets was Sheldon Richardson in 2013.

• Early dominance

It’s blatantly brutal to bet against Gardner when he’s shined this summer. He had a pick-six in June & he recently picked off the polarizing Atlanta Falcons rookie QB Desmond Riddler. Sauce talked the talk in the draft process and he’s walked the walk in the 2022 pre-season. Gardner’s early positive impressions have earned him the starting gig over Bryce Hall heading into the 2022 campaign.

• Cornerback spot

It doesn’t take Captain Obvious to say that some positions in the NFL have a better chance of winning individual honors. Of course, Gardner plays at the CB spot – which has featured two DROY winners (Marcus Peters and Marshon Lattimore) in the past several seasons. The edge rusher is the only spot-on defense that has garnered more DROY winners in the same time span.

• Division foes

I don’t love the fact that the Jets have the least overall talent in their division. Nonetheless, I really like that Gardner faces off against three potent signal-callers in the AFC East: Josh Allen, Mac Jones, and Tua Tagovailoa. He will certainly have the spotlight in his division & I expect him to shine against the well-rounded group of QBs — which will hand him a ton of respect.

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By: Jake Rajala

The New York Jets have a rebellion-like hope that their 2022 season will be more successful than their 2021 campaign. The Jets are also holding optimism that the second-year QB Zach Wilson, who recently suffered a meniscus tear, can start in Week 1. With that enunciated, I’m going to take a fun angle with the Jets 2022 season outlook and untwine 10 bold predictions for the Jets in 2022.

• Corey Davis makes the Pro Bowl

The former Tennessee Titans WR Corey Davis has been a stud this summer as the Jets WR1, to say the least. The most recent impressive play by Davis was his one-handed catch in the Jets-Falcons joint practice. I expect Wilson’s growth to depend on Davis and he will surely send lots of impressive darts and even prayers to his number one wideout in the upcoming season.

• Breece Hall runs for 1,000+ yards

The Jets 2022 second-round pick RB Breece Hall had a monster 70-yard TD run in camp yesterday. Brian Costello of the New York Post believes that Carter will be the Jets lead RB in 2022. Hall was an unstoppable work-horse for Iowa State in 2021 (1,472 rushing yds and 20 rushing TDs) and in 2020 (1,572 rushing yds and 21 rushing TDs). I foresee Hall continuing to torch defenses as an NFL rookie.

• Quinnen Williams has double-digit sacks

The Jets need former Alabama star Quinnen Williams to perform like he was drafted third overall in the 2019 NFL draft. Williams has been a modest performer with Gregg Williams and Robert Saleh over the past two seasons. Williams notched 7 sacks, 14 QB hits, and three pass deflections in 13 games in 2020 and he then exhibited six sacks, 12 QB hits, and 7 tackles for loss in 15 match-ups last season. I trust that he will slightly up his contest, stay healthy, and unleash double-digit sacks in 2022.

• Sauce Gardner makes second-team All-Pro

I like Aidan Hutchinson’s chances at winning DROY. However, I still believe Sauce Garnder, aka the Jets fourth overall pick in the 2022 draft, will be a nightmare against opposing signal-callers. In fact, I believe he can continue to be an extremely talented shut-down CB and garner second-team AP honors in his rookie campaign. He may be the next legendary CB after Darrelle Revis for Jets fans.

• C.J. Mosley earns a Pro Bowl nod

The Jets LB C.J. Mosley had a bounce-back season in 2021 in my opinion: 168 combined tackles, two sacks, 3 QB hits, and 2 FFs. I expect him to blossom in year two of Saleh’s scheme along an improved DL and garner his fifth-straight PB honors.

• Greg Zuerlein makes 30+ field goals

Greg the Leg still has a strong leg, fascinating ego, and the ability to be consistent in the league. He converted 29 field goals in 2021 and I believe he will be called on to make a lot of kicks for NY in 2022. He’s only converted 30+ FGs in two NFL seasons, but I expect him to crack 30+ FGs in the near future.

• The Jets obtain eight victories

It would be an understatement to say it wouldn’t be easy for the Jets to make the playoffs in the frigid AFC East next season. Nonetheless, I believe they can still take a big step from their four win season in 2021 to eight victories in 2022. The Jets have a talented and ascending QB, an extremely motivated HC in Robert Saleh, even more weaponry than last season, and they have one of the most talented rookies in Sauce Gardner.

• Solomon Thomas has 7+ sacks

Saleh and Solomon Thomas reunited in the Big Apple – as Thomas played under Saleh in SF. The former 49ers DL registered 3.5 sacks, 12 QB hits, and 2 FFs last season. I believe Thomas will have a career season (which will include 7+ sacks) alongside Williams on the DL. Saleh is in NY on a one-year deal worth $2.5 million dollars.

• Denzel Mims has 5+ touchdowns

At this point, I believe that the Jets will hold onto Denzel Mims for another season. He may not be a Top 3 WR on the depth chart, but his physicality should help him excel in the red-zone. I believe he can find unique success in the Jets offense and haul in at least five touchdown receptions in 2022.

• Duane Brown makes the Pro Bowl

The Jets new OT Duane Brown may be 36 years old, but he is absolutely talented football player. Brown made the Pro Bowl last season and notched a modest 71.5 grade by PFF. I believe he will do an admirable job against the likes of Von Miller and punch another ticket to the Pro Bowl.

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By: Jake Rajala

The NFL witnessed the development of a few Prometheus-like NFL defenses this off-season. The New Orleans Saints defense brought in Tyrann Mathieu, the Buffalo Bills inked Von Miller, and the Los Angeles Rams brought in Bobby Wagner.

There are a few sexy defenses and even many other defensive units that have received lots of praise from NFL analysts. Well, I’m going to move a few NFL defenses that are honestly underrated and deserve to be moved into the spotlight.

Philadelphia Eagles

I really believe Philly could have a Top-3 run defense in 2022 after having a ninth-ranked run defense last season. The rookie Jordan Davis/40-yard dash legend should certainly excel with excellent match-ups next to Fletcher Cox. Haason Reddick was a sneaky free-agent signing, as he logged 23.5 sacks in the past two seasons combined. It should also be noted that Brandon Graham, who made the Pro Bowl in 2020, played in a mere two games last season. Of course, the Eagles defense recently added a nice piece to their puzzle in the former NYG James Bradberry.

Dallas Cowboys

The Boys have a fantastic trio of defenders: Demarcus Lawrence, Micah Parsons, and Trevon Diggs. They may not have the most superb depth in their secondary, but I love the potential in Micah Parsons. He may have had a mythical rookie season, but he can absolutely take the next step and win DPOY. Demarcus Lawrence was also out for 10 games last season and it would be an understatement to say a healthy Lawrence makes a massive difference.

New York Jets

I am not a big fan of the Jets overall ceiling in 2022 – or the job security for Robert Saleh and Zach Wilson. Nonetheless, I expect Saleh to help the Jets have success on defense – as they have a unique unit. Quinnen Williams will look to have his best season in a contract year. Amhad ‘Sauce’ Gardner (who recently had a pick-six in practice) should be a big boost and a potential DROY candidate, as well. The Jets could really struggle in the brutal, ascending AFC East next season, but their defense honestly has a bright future.

New York Giants

Let’s stay in New York and in the NFC East. The Giants absolutely have a lot of energy on defense at the moment. Kavyon Thiobdeuax was recently pegged as a DROY favorite by Bleacher Report. I also like the intense and creative mindset that Don Martindale brings to the building every day. The Giants defense should enjoy more rest from an improved Saquon Barkley and Giants rushing attack, too.

Baltimore Ravens

Similar to the Eagles, the Ravens could have an overly impressive section of their defense (secondary) in 2022. I expect the Ravens to return to having an elite defense with their new faces this off-season. Kyle Hamilton was one of the biggest draft steals and the former Saint Marcus Williams will be a ball-hawk next to Hamilton.

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By: Matt Nagashima

As we gear up for the draft season, this crop of cornerbacks is making a splash. The onslaught of the modern NFL passing game has teams scrambling to revamp their secondaries, and that all starts at the corner. The 2020 and 2021 drafts both saw corners get selected twice in the top 10, and we could possibly see a similar valuation this year.

NFL scout Lance Zierlein has this class ranked 4th out of 11 position groups in the draft. Not bad, and there’s a lot to like at the top. Let’s take a look at the top 5 prospects here, and how they project at the next level.

5. Andrew Booth – Clemson

We don’t have a full profile on Booth because a quad injury held him out of the combine, but the Clemson product fields a lot to offer. At 6 foot 194 pounds, he has the length and size to hang, He played against top tier talent in the SEC, and what’s more he improved year to year in terms of production. After scarce playing time his freshman year, he posted a solid sophomore campaign playing 10 games, making 4 passes defensed and 2 picks, and built on that last year with 5 passes defensed and 3 picks. He’s also got tape making some beautiful one handed and athletic interceptions, so his potential as a ball-hawk is there.

Comparison: Bradley Roby

4. Kaiir Elam – Florida

Elam has elite traits mounted on his 6’1″ frame. He posted a 4.39 40, and with length and speed like that has the chops to make it as a boundary corner in the NFL. He’ll need to work on his consistency and abilities vs the run at the next level, but with tools like this, a team is sure to bite and mold him into the player they want to see out there. His peak performance in college was his 2020 season where he posted 39 tackles, 11 PD and 2 picks, so it’s easy to see what he’s capable of out there.

Comparison: Caleb Farley

3. Trent McDuffie – Washington

McDuffie has rock solid measurables at 5’11” 193 pounds and a 4.44, but what sets him apart is his aggressiveness in press and downhill mentality that makes him an asset vs the run. He’s been at both outside and slot positions in college, and with the growing demand for slot corners in the modern NFL, he seems like a great candidate to coach up. His quickness, stickiness and nose for the play all make him perfect for the slot, and he could be one of the greats moving forward.

Comparison: Chris Harris

2. Derek Stingley – LSU

I’d rank Stingley higher but we haven’t seen his ceiling as much as one would hope, as he’s been stunted by injury in the past two years. However, in his freshman campaign, the talent was beaming off the tape. He finished with 6 interceptions and 15 passes defended, showcasing incredible speed and burst to match with his 6 foot, 205-pound frame. If he can utilize his high-end athleticism and strength at the next level and stay healthy, he could go down as the best corner of the group.

Comparison: Patrick Peterson

1. Sauce Gardner – Cincinnati

He’s 6’3″, he’s got 4.4 speed, he’s a 3 year starter who posted 3 picks every year in college, and Rich Eisen is ready to riot and force the Jets to pick him at #4. It’s fair to say he’s popular in this draft cycle. After a good showing with the Bearcats and with tools to drool over, how is Sauce likely to stack up in the pros?

Gardner excels in man coverage, particularly in press. He’s physical at the point of attack vs receivers, and highly athletic. He could be the type of guy to lock down half of the field if he gains his DC’s trust, and I really like the idea of putting a big, sticky, fast corner opposite TE’s when applicable.

Comparison: Marcus Peters

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