Jets Country 2022 Draft Review: Max Mitchell Makes Five Starts in First Year

Offensive tackle Max Mitchell was forced right into the fire. 

With Mekhi Becton done for the season and Duane Brown out for the first month, the rookie Mitchell was an Opening Day starter at right tackle.

"I'm ready for it [his NFL debut]. I've been taking reps with the ones. Nothing new to me," said Mitchell leading up to the Jets' Week 1 battle against the Baltimore Ravens. "It's going to be awesome, I'm excited and it's nothing I'm not prepared for. Ready to go."

Head coach Robert Saleh voiced his confidence in the rookie from the get-go.

"Max is much further along than we thought he’d be at this point," Saleh said. "So we’re very confident that he’ll be able to step in and do his job."

The 6-foot-6 Mitchell, the Jets' first of two fourth-round draft picks in 2022, started the season's first four games before suffering a Week 4 injury. 

The Louisiana product played 100 percent of the offensive snaps in his first three appearances prior to going down during the second quarter of an eventual 24-20 road win over the Pittsburgh Steelers. 

Mitchell was carted off the field in Pittsburgh due to a knee injury on October 2, and the first-year pro did not return to the lineup until a Week 12 win over the Chicago Bears on November 27.

The fourth-round pick displayed the potential to perform adequately in the NFL. He held up well against some talented edge rushers early on, but his development has been hampered by missed time. 

In his second game back from injury, Mitchell started, but did not finish, the Week 13 loss at Minnesota. 

That following Wednesday, the Jets placed Mitchell on the non-football injury list, effectively ending his season. It was reported that the rookie lineman was suffering from a blood clotting issue.

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