On April 28, the New York Jets selected edge rusher Jermaine Johnson with the 26th overall pick in the 2022 NFL draft. For Johnson, a fall to the mid-twenties was unexpected, but in the grand scheme of things, he was lucky to be drafted at all.
For hundreds of prospects, the conclusion of the draft on April 30 marked the end of their dreams to one day play in the NFL. Johnson’s former Independence Community College teammate, Washington State wide receiver Calvin Jackson, was nearly one of those players.
Jackson went undrafted, but fortunately enough, he was invited to two rookie minicamps for tryouts; one with the New York Jets and another with the Miami Dolphins.