The New York Jets 2022 Draft Class has been one of the best in franchise history. It’s no surprise that members of their star-studded class are being rewarded for their strong regular seasons.
The Pro Football Writers of America (PFWA) named both Jets’ corner Sauce Gardner, and receiver Garrett Wilson to their All-Rookie team for the 2022-23 season. The PFWA also named Gardner as Rookie of the Year and Defensive Rookie of the Year while Wilson took home offensive rookie of the year.
Gardner led all NFL defenders this season with 20 passes defensed and was named a first-team All-Pro, the first time a rookie in the secondary was given the honors since Ronnie Lott back in 1981. The fourth overall pick out of Cincinnati was selected AFC Defensive Player of the Week in Week 7. He was the only rookie named to the 2022 PFWA All-NFL team, and he also was a PFWA All-AFC selection.
Wilson on the other hand was the 10th overall selection by the Jets in last year’s draft and led all rookies in receptions and yards. The Ohio State product set Jets franchise records in both categories by a rookie. He is the first rookie offensive player to be given the Rookie of the Year award by the PFWA in franchise history.
Both players for the Jets have taken home serious hardware this offseason and could be in line for more in a few weeks. Both Wilson and Gardner are finalists for the Pepsi Zero Sugar Rookie of the Year award that will be announced during NFL Honors night the night before Super Bowl LVII.
New York finished 7-10 in the second year under Robert Saleh, a four-win improvement from the previous season. If the Jets are to break their 12-year playoff drought, the 2022 rookie class led by Gardner and Wilson are important first steps to that process.
