Why Iowa State’s Breece Hall Fits The New York Jets’ Offense, Plus Other Day 2 And Day 3 Observations

Joe Douglas and the rest of the New York Jets’ front office ended their participation in the 2022 NFL Draft quite early on Saturday.

That’s because of their aggressiveness in the earlier rounds.

New York made its last pick at No. 117, before 1 p.m. Eastern time, only 12 picks into the fourth round. Nonetheless, Douglas pronounced it “a really productive weekend” and added “(I) feel good about where we’re at.”

And although the true quality of a team’s draft class cannot be measured until at least two or three seasons down the road, the Jets certainly added talent, speed and explosiveness on both sides of the line of scrimmage.

And again, they did it partly with an aggressive approach in regards to trading up.

The Jets already had exhausted their sixth and seventh-round selections in earlier trades long before the 2022 NFL Draft began. When the week started, they still had two fifth-rounders, one of which they spent to trade up into the first round Thursday night to select Florida State edge rusher Jermaine Johnson II at No. 26.

The second one, at No. 146, was used Friday night to move up two spots and pry pick No. 36 overall from the New York Giants. The Jets then used it to select Iowa State running back Breece Hall, considered the best player in the draft at his position.

“We had a suspicion that there would be a team that could take him,” Douglas said. “(And that) he wouldn’t make it all the way to 38, so we worked the phone lines trying to make a small move to get up and make sure we got our guy.

“He was one of the top players in the entire conference,” Douglas said of Hall, a two-time Big 12 Offensive Player of the Year in 2020 and 2021. Hall rushed for 3,941 yards and 50 touchdowns a 5.5 yards per carry in three seasons as a Cyclone.

“The thing that jumps out with him is he’s a home run threat,” Douglas said. “He can score from anywhere on the field. (He has) excellent elusiveness, excellent balance through contact. And, also, (he’s) another guy that can be a weapon in the pass game. … He’s a tough tackle in open space. He’s one of the more elusive backs.”

Although the Jets already have a young, talented running back in 2021 fourth-round pick Michael Carter, the addition of Hall makes sense. Carter missed three games last season because of an ankle injury, and the Shanahan style-offense depends upon multiple running backs to make it go. There isn’t one bellwether who gets the bulk of the carries.

The 5-11, 217-pound Hall described himself as “a three-down back, a guy who can catch the ball, make people miss, run you over, and somebody that plays hard and a person who’s just as good off the field as he is on the field. So, a guy who’s going to impact the community and just be more than a football player.”

Speaking of injuries, perhaps that’s what one factor that motivated the selection of Ohio State tight end Jeremy Ruckert at No. 101 near the end of the third round. (The Jets already signed C.J. Uzomah and Tyler Conklin to free-agent deals worth ?? in guaranteed money this off-season.)

The 6-5, 250-pound Ruckert was somewhat underutilized in Ohio State’s star-studded offense (see No. 10 overall selection Garrett Wilson as an example of that star power) but the Jets saw enough to impress them as both a receiver and blocker. He had 53 receptions the last three seasons.

“He’s a guy that’s willing to sacrifice for the team,” Douglas said. “He’s a dynamic weapon in the pass game. But he wasn’t always the number one option at Ohio State. But he was a guy that was willing to do the dirty work to help his teammates as a blocker. He really committed to helping his running backs at the point of attack and he gets after guys at the line of scrimmage, but he can also get open against safeties and create separation in the pass game.”

Ruckert’s most famous play for OSU was a one-handed touchdown catch that sparked the Buckeyes’ come-from-behind win against Wisconsin in the 2020 Big Ten title game.

Ruckert said, “You’re going to get someone that doesn’t care about personal fame, numbers, stats or anything. I’m going to do whatever it takes to help the team.”

In the fourth round Saturday, the Jets took Louisiana right tackle Max Mitchell at No. 111. Mitchell, who is, 6-6, 307, projects as a developmental player but could be in the spotlight as soon as next season if New York does not re-sign impending unrestricted free agent George Fant or if Mekhi Becton doesn’t get healthy, return to form, and lose weight.

In fact, coach Robert Saleh playfully delivered a personal message to Becton on Saturday.

After saying “It’s voluntary, but I know he’s working his tail off in Dallas and we have tabs on him. We know exactly what he’s doing, and we know where he is within his rehab.” Saleh looked at the camera and said, “Would love you back here buddy, come on. We’ll take care of you.”

Kidding on the square, perhaps?

As for Mitchell, a third-team Associated Press All-American, his hand technique and upper body seems solid but his footwork could use some finishing touches. He should get the time to polish it.

Douglas said of Mitchell, “He’s been practicing tackle, guard, snapping the ball as a center, so I feel like he can be another versatile piece to add to the offensive line to give us some flexibility moving forward.”

“I’m versatile, I’m tough and I’m athletic,” Mitchell said. “I’m resilient, I don’t quit, I’m a hard worker. I’m here to contend.”

The Jets’ final pick, Texas A&M defensive end Micheal Clemons at 117, was suspended for the Aggies’ opener in 2021 due to an August arrest for marijuana possession and unlawful carrying of a weapon. He also had been arrested in May for driving with an invalid license.

Douglas said the Jets vetted him and were satisfied with the results.

“We were aware of some of those issues going into this process,” the GM said. “Part of our process is getting together with the player, getting together, having a security meeting regarding every player in the draft and felt comfortable about adding him to the organization. Feel good about him not making those similar mistakes moving forward.”

On the field, the production was there, with seven sacks in 10 games in 2021. But critics point to the 6-5, 263-pounder’s stiff hips, which are a troublesome trait for potential NFL players. The Jets’ coaching staff will likely have to do some work with him, but the motor and effort seem to be present.

“When you look at my character, that was a one-time incident,” Clemons said of his August arrest. “Things like that didn’t happen over the course of my life. I’ve been in trouble with the law once and that’s not who I am, it’s not what my character shows. It’s in the past now and I’ve learned from it and I’m moving forward.”