The edge rusher position was well down the list of crucial positions the New York Jets needed to address as the third day of the 2022 NFL draft rolled around.
However, they chose to use a high fourth-round pick (117th overall) on Texas A&M edge rusher Micheal Clemons to finish off their seven-player class.
You can be sure that the Jets had to have had to be very confident in Clemons’ talent level in relation to the slot where they chose him for the team in order to select him. Clemons is a player in a position of strength who is over 24 years old and has some off-field concerns.
The Jets picked Clemons despite his position, age, and other concerns because he was unquestionably the best player available on their board by a significant margin.
For Texas A& M this past season, Clemons was a dominant force in the passing game. He performed well and put up impressive figures.
In fact, he outperformed Jets first-round pick Jermaine Johnson in terms of pass-rush statistics.
Clemons recorded 46 total pressures in 10 games in 2021, which placed him 32nd overall and fourth among FBS edge rushers and fourth among edge rushers from the SEC.
These 46 pressures included 11 quarterback hits, 27 quarterback hurries, and 8 sacks (six full, two partial).
Clemons recorded a pressure rate of 14.0% while accumulating his 46 pressures over the course of 328 pass-rush snaps, placing him in the 84th percentile of eligible FBS edge rushers.
How Much Does Micheal Clemons Make?
Micheal Clemons has an average annual salary of $1,106,024. Clemons will earn a base salary of $705,000 and a signing bonus of $764,096, with a cap hit of $896,024 in 2022.