FLORHAM PARK N.J. — Once, they drafted a defensive lineman who didn’t have cartilage in his knee.
They chose a cornerback who had been to more surgeries than The Good Doctor.
They chose a tight end, who has never caught more than 27 passes in college season, and a wide receiver/track player who had previously played in a wishbone offensive.
They were also all selected in the top 10.
The New York JetsHave a long and storied history of top-10 picks, a variety of head-scratchers. fauxThe great green ether was awash with blue-chippers that never met their expectations. Even some of the so called good picks were criticized by pundits or fans.
They should be much better considering how many times they have practiced.
The Jets have drafted 26 players from the top 10 in common-draft, which began in 1967. Detroit Lions for the third-most, according to ESPN Stats & Information research. The Arizona Cardinals Cincinnati BengalsYou get 28 per piece.
The Jets will be tied for first place on April 28 if there are no trades. They have the fourth and 10th draft picks, with the latter acquired from the Seattle SeahawksIn a trade to safety Jamal Adams2020 This is their first franchise with two top-10 picks.
Only one of their 26 picks has produced a player with multiple All Pro seasons (tackle Marvin Powell), and only one Pro Football Hall of Famer, running back John Riggins, whose best years were post-1990s. Joe Namath is a Hall of Fame quarterback. He was drafted in 1965 when the NFL and AFL had separate drafts.
It’s not easy to make it all up.
Jordan Reid, an ESPN draft analyst, said that “it’s been a run-of-bad luck.” “They’ve had some great ones here lately. “I think [quarterback] Zach [Wilson]Everything will be just fine. [Defensive tackle] Quinnen [Williams]He’s making progress; he just needs stay healthy. While it is improving, it was not without its challenges. Some of those men are still my friends. It was just a string if bad luck.”
The Jets could theoretically get two future stars at Nos. But we all know that drafts don’t work this way. Here’s a look at the Jets top 10, from Riggins (1971), to Wilson (2021).
Biggest failures:Cornerback Dee Milliner (2013) & edge rusher Vernon Gholston (2008) – These two stand out from the crowd – or below it, depending on how you view it.
Gholston has not recorded a single sack in his three NFL seasons. Gholston was unable to score a single sack in the finale of the 2010 NFL season. This was despite the Jets having clinched a playoff slot. The coaches created specific plays for Gholston to help him get that elusive pass. A customized game plan did not work.
Milliner was highly respected for his cover skills. However, there was concern after he had to have surgery five times at Alabama. He was hurt in his first training camp. He was 25 and his career was over. Milliner (21) was the 2013 first-round selection.
Loudest boos at draft dayThe New York crowd cheered “We want Sapp!” In 1995, the Jets shocked everyone when they drafted tight end Kyle Brady. He was met on stage by boos. They passed on Warren Sapp, a defensive tackle who would go on a Hall of Fame career. Sapp was considered to be too dangerous for the Jets at the time. too risky because of off-the-field issues.
Brady said seven years ago that he was as confused as the fans when he described his draft-day experience to ESPN.
Brady, who only received modest numbers from Penn State, played for 13 years and earned about $30 million. This was a fine career, but it didn’t come with a gold medal.
Reckless climbingTo get in the top 10, the Jets made three major trades, two of which were huge mistakes. They traded for wide receiver Johnny “Lam”, a sprinter who had a history of chronic yips, in 1980. They were originally going to target tackle Anthony Munoz but changed their minds after they became concerned about his knee. However, he was able to become a Hall of Famer for the Bengals.
The Jets made the bold move in 2003 to acquire defensive tackle Dewayne Robson. They did not consider the possibility of a knee injury (look, there is no cartilage! Because they believed he was worthy to be Sapp 2.0. Not even close.
In 2009, Mark Sanchez was traded for quarterback. He won four playoff games, all on the road, before his career stalled. This trade, unlike the two previous ones, didn’t cost them any first-round picks. They believed they had their franchise quarterback… until they found out they weren’t.
Sneaky good picks:Powell (1977), is never mentioned among the Jets’ greats. However, he deserves to be in that conversation alongside three All-Pro selections from his resume.
Marvin Powell was a legendary Jets pass-rusher Mark Gastineau stated, “I wouldn’t have been the player that I was without him.” “We made one another better each day in practice.”
Another good pick was tackle D’Brickashaw Ferguson (2006). In 10 years, he didn’t miss a practice or game. Cal Ripken Jr. was his Cal Ripken Jr.
All-Pro First Team:Adams (2017) was the first recipient of the honor, along with James Farrior (linebacker), wide receiver Al Toon (1985), as well as running backs Riggins, Freeman McNeil (1981). Farrior, Riggins and the other recipients of the honor were, it should not be forgotten, recognized with the Pittsburgh Steelers Washington, respectively. Concussions were the most tragic chapter in Jets’ history, and Toon’s promising career was ended.
One jacket in gold:Riggins was a star of the Jets right away, and is known as the wild child of the 1970s. After being a Pro Bowl star and team MVP in 1975 he was released by Washington due to a contract dispute. Here is a link that will allow you to see the Jets’ history with releasing talented players.
Most popular school:They selected six players from USC to create a Trojans’ alumni group. Apart from Powell and Sanchez there was also quarterback Sam Darnold (2018), defensive end Leonard Williams(2015), wide receiver Keyshawn John (1996) and tackle Dave Cadigan (1988), both of whom had a bad start to their careers. His first game saw him get run over by Dave Cadigan (1988). New England PatriotsAndre Tippett was a star who may have left cleat marks across Cadigan’s chest. The Trojan’s former Trojan threatened a reporter in the locker-room later in his career. Continue fighting, indeed!
The ‘what-if?’ draftDick Steinberg was in love with Blair Thomas’ running back in 1990. The GM said to a reporter in Mobile, Alabama that Thomas won MVP in Senior Bowl. Important note: Junior linebacker Junior Seau was also a defensive tackle Cortez Kennedy. Both were juniors. NotOn the field.
Thomas was drafted second overall. He never made it to the big leagues. Seau and Kennedy, the next two names on Steinberg’s draftboard, were drafted second overall. Kennedy and San Diego Chargers star Seau respectively in Hall of Fame. Grandma should have looked into the underclassmen.
All-longevity team:Farrior 230; Brady 197; Riggins 175 were the top-10 picks. Three of them played more games than the Jets with other teams.
Busiest GMMike Maccagnan, the Jets’ general manager, was among the top 10 — he received four picks from five drafts. Yes, they lost a lot to reach those positions. While he did have his fair share of draft mistakes, his tops picks were not all that bad. Defensive tackle Quinnen Williams2019: Leonard Williams and Adams are both productive players in this league, with Darnold being the only question mark.
Darnold was an instant hit with the Jets. He unexpectedly dropped to No. 3. A team official in a giddy draft area turned to Maccagnan, and said, “You’ve got a horseshoe up you ass.”
Reality eventually took the good fortune away. It was a familiar theme.