BEST and WORST picks...ours ~ ~ ~

[kelly]

New York Jets : Best and worst draft picks

Best picks

Joe Namath -- 1965 AFL (No. 1 overall

Namath remains the most famous of all Jets. A five-time Pro Bowler and member of the Pro Football Hall of Fame, Namath is best known for his guarantee that the underdog Jets would defeat the Baltimore Colts in Super Bowl III. They did just that, the AFL and NFL merged soon after and Namath's icon status was sealed for all time. The Jets continue to search for their next great star at quarterback, now 37 seasons after Namath took his final snap with the team.

» Photos: Namath through the years | Video: Spike Lee on Namath

Darrelle Revis -- 2007 (No. 14)

Revis only has played six seasons in the NFL, but he's already among the greatest players in franchise history. The Jets traded up to select Revis, who was a starter from the first game of his NFL career onward. A four-time Pro Bowler and true shutdown corner, it's almost hard to believe the Jets seem intent on trading Revis away. And yet, here we are...

» 2007 NFL Draft | Photos: Revis through the years

Joe Klecko -- 1977 (No. 144)

In terms of value, the Jets never hit bigger on a draft pick than with Klecko. He was a member of the Jets' famed "New York Sack Exchange" and is the only defensive player in NFL history to be selected to the Pro Bowl at three different positions (defensive tackle, nose tackle, defensive end). Klecko isn't in the Hall of Fame, but he should be. Not bad for a sixth-round pick.

» 1977 NFL Draft

Mark Gastineau -- 1979 (No. 41)

Another member of the "New York Sack Exchange," Gastineau was one of

the game's best pass-rushers of the 1980s. His 22 sacks in 1984 stood as

an NFL record until Brett Favre slid at Michael Strahan's feet in 2001.

Gastineau's impact as a defender could be overshadowed by his https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CHMgOoWTJWM, music-video cameos, and one very stupid penalty, but he was a five-time Pro Bowler and three-time All-Pro. The Jets of today could use a QB-hunter of Gastineau's ilk.

» 1979 NFL Draft

Nick Mangold -- 2006 (No. 29)

The Jets

have been blessed at the center position for some time. From 1997 to

2005, Kevin Mawae anchored the center of New York's offensive line.

Mangold took over in 2006, and has been among the game's best ever

since. A four-time Pro Bowler

and two-time All-Pro, Mangold's combination of strength and athleticism

makes him unique at the position. Like Revis, Mangold is a current-day

star. Unlike Revis, he's not going anywhere.

» 2006 NFL Draft

Follow Dan Hanzus on Twitter @DanHanzus.

Worst picks

And now, the gold standard of disappointing draft picks: The New York Jets. After all, the "Worst Jets Draft Picks" has taken on a life of it's own since Jeff Lageman was taken in the first round in 1989 and we found out the New York Jets

had no idea what the draft is all about. Sigh. You can't just be a

garden-variety bust to be on this list. Even Blair Thomas was a sure

thing at #2 in the 1990 draft - many teams would have taken him in that

spot. But the following is what separates the Jets from everyone else.

Kyle Brady -- 1995 (No. 9)

Forget that Hall-of-Famer Warren Sapp was inexplicably still on the

board at number nine. Never mind the most receptions Brady had in

college for a season was 27. Never mind that in his final three years as

a Nittany Lion he scored a total of five touchdowns. This is what to

pay attention to: the Jets

had a tight end in Johnny Mitchell who was coming off a 58-catch

season. At the time it looked like Mitchell was becoming a star. You

tell me an NFL team that, in the top ten of a draft, selects a player

who plays the same position of someone young, established and on the way

up. So how did he do with the Jets? He caught 93 passes in four years. So, just like he did at Penn State.

» 1995 NFL Draft

Mike Nugent -- 2005 (No. 47)

Fresh in the Jets minds are Doug Brien's misses against the Steelers

in the final 2:00 of their divisional playoff game at Heinz Field that

prevented them from advancing to the AFC Championship game. So the Jets enter the draft and do two things. One, they trade their first round pick to the Raiders

in a deal for TE Doug Jolley. Jolley was coming off a 27-catch/2 TD

season. THIS is who made them comfortable about dropping out of the

first round? But then, literally, comes the kicker. The Jets draft Mike Nugent

out of Ohio State to replace Brien. It turned out Nugent's leg wasn't

nearly as strong as it was in college, and he suffered injuries along

the way. But I don't care if he's George Blanda or Jan Stenerud. You

don't take a kicker in the 2nd round of the draft. Ever

» 2005 NFL Draft

Roger Vick -- 1987 (No. 21)

A fullback out of Texas A&M, Vick was in the league for one year

longer (4) than the number of sentences his wikipedia page has (3). But

here's what makes the selection so baffling. The Jets

already had two running backs in Freeman McNeil and Johnny Hector who,

in 1986, combined for over 2,300 yards from scrimmage and 14 touchdowns.

McNeil was 27 and Hector was 26. Where was Vick going to fit in,

exactly? He wasn't a blocking fullback, he was coming off a 1,000 yard

season with the Aggies. It was a wasted first round pick, which actually

was a theme overall for the Jets in the mid 1980's.

» 1987 NFL Draft

Russell Carter and Ron Faurot-- 1984 (No. 10, No.15 )

Plenty

of teams whiff on a first round pick every year. But to whiff on two

picks in the 1st in the same year? Carter, selected 10th overall, was

drafted as a safety. He never played a down at the position for the Jets,

being switched to CB. He played four years with New York and failed to

intercept a pass his final three seasons with the team. Five picks after

Carter, the team took Faurot. A DE, he was switched to OLB by then head

coach Joe Walton. Suffice it to say that didn't work out. Faurot

managed two sacks before the Jets waived him mid-season in 1985, 18 months after making him the 15th overall selection in the draft. So to recap, the Jets drafted two players in the top 15, switched their positions, and cut one of them after just 20 games. Right now Mark Sanchez is saying 'Thank goodness I didn't play in 1985.'

» 1984 NFL Draft

 

 

 

Vernon Gholston -- 2008 (No. 6)

The Jets

thought he was going to be a sack machine, considering his exploits at

Ohio State. His specialty was getting to the quarterback, breaking the

Ohio State record for sacks in a season in 2007. You know how this goes

by now for the Jets.In three seasons with New York, he failed to tally a sack. Not one.

Even though it's been estimated over 600 different players recorded at

least one sack in that time period, and over 100 of them were undrafted

free agents. (Thanks, Rich Cimini for that dagger of a stat.) Seriously,

he couldn't get just one QB to even trip and fall down and he comes by

and touches him?

» 2008 NFL Draft

 

> http://www.nfl.com/news/story/0ap1000000158529/article/new-york-jets-best-and-worst-draft-picks

[kelly]

 

[JetsFanInDenver]

Gholston will get a sack one of these days. Just watch!

[JADEDGREEN]

Needs more track and field stars.

[Greenseed4]

TEs and Boar Hunters. 

[peebag]

wow - how could you exclude Johnny "Lame" Jones from this list????????

[pointman]

Gholston will get a sack one of these days. Just watch!

Is he even in the league anymore? 

[JetsFanInDenver]

Is he even in the league anymore? 

 

Between you and me, I was speaking in jest.

[Integrity28]

It's amazing that in terms of bad picks, Gholston's not even close to the top... and in terms of best picks, there is Namath and then Revis, and not much in between but the sack exchange. Wow.

[stugotz81]

[T0mShane]

Gholston was probably the worst draft pick I've ever witnessed. Even Jamarcus Russell showed a few glimpses of potential. Gholston, nothing. Never.

[stugotz81]

Gholston was probably the worst draft pick I've ever witnessed. Even Jamarcus Russell showed a few glimpses of potential. Gholston, nothing. Never.

I believe he had that one preseason sack in Rex's first year, maybe it was a half sack.   At least he was kind enough to restructure his rookie contract bc he knew how bad he was stinking up the place.  But I agree, maybe worst bust ever, dude was a flop from day 1....its like he forgot how to play football or was just to busy spending his millions on strippers to care about the NFL.

[JADEDGREEN]

wow - how could you exclude Johnny "Lame" Jones from this list????????

 

We traded 2 firsts for the honor to draft him 2nd overall.

[pointman]

Between you and me, I was speaking in jest.

LIES!

[JetsFanInDenver]

LIES!

 

Totally!

[pointman]

Totally!

I will wear my Gholston jersey every Sunday until he records a sack. That will show all of you. 

 

 

Next mission, wear a Sanchez jersey til he is an elite QB making Flacco money.

[JetsFanInDenver]

I will wear my Gholston jersey every Sunday until he records a sack. That will show all of you. 

 

 

Next mission, wear a Sanchez jersey til he is an elite QB making Flacco money.

 

At this point i have to ask how many jerseys will you wear at the same time ? Remember there is Kyle WIlson, Duccasse and so on!

[Scott Dierking]

Jason Ferguson 7th round

Richie Anderson 6th round

Jeff Blake 6th round

Marvin Washington 6th Round

Pat Ryan 11th round

Abdul Salaam 11th round

Joe Fiel;ds 14th round

[pointman]

At this point i have to ask how many jerseys will you wear at the same time ? Remember there is Kyle WIlson, Duccasse and so on!

I am still wearing a Pennington jersey... until he throws a pass down field over 25 yards. 

[kelly]

Carl  Barzilauskas : 1974 - 6th pick...1st round

[kelly]

OFFENSE

 

QB -- Browning Nagle (Round 2, 1991)

Nicknamed "Nuke" LaLoosh of "Bull Durham" fame -- million-dollar arm, 10-cent brain.

RB -- Blair Thomas (Round 1, 1990)

Chosen No. 2 overall, ahead of Cortez Kennedy, Junior Seau and Emmitt Smith. Symbolized a dark era for Jets.

RB -- LaMont Jordan (Round 2, 2001)

Showed promise as Curtis Martin's backup, but left for Oakland, hit cruise control and never fulfilled potential.

RB -- Alex Van Dyke (Round 2, 1996)

After picking Keyshawn Johnson No. 1 overall, Rich Kotite wanted another receiver. Ugh! Finished with 26 career catches.

WR -- Ryan Yarborough (Round 2, 1994)

Jets wanted WR Isaac Bruce, picked eight spots earlier. Settled for guy that never caught more than 18 passes in a season.

TE -- Johnny Mitchell (Round 1, 1992)

Had the physical tools to be great, but incredibly immature. Tried comeback, but left camp unannounced in middle of night.

OL -- David Loverne (Round 3, 1999)

Coaches called him a sleeper; too bad he never woke up. Never started a game for Jets.

OL -- Matt O'Dwyer (Round 2, 1995)

Best known for kicking out window of police cruiser after being arrested in barroom brawl.

OL -- Adrian Jones (Round 4, 2004)

A soft player without a true position. Started one full season at left tackle -- same year Jets lost two QBs. Coincidence?

OL -- Jacob Bender (Round 6, 2007)

Pick made no sense. Came from an option offense at tiny Nicholls State. Career games: Two.

OL -- David Ware (Round 4, 1993)

Never played a game in the NFL. What more can you say?

 

DEFENSE

 

DL -- Rick Terry (Round 2, 1997

What was Bill Parcells thinking? Terry was top pick in Round 2, lasted only three years. Lazy as Sunday morning.

DL -- Dewayne Robertson
(Round 1, 2003)

Fourth overall pick, never came close to expectations. Drafted despite a degenerative knee condition.

DL -- Dorian Boose (Round 2, 1998)

Privately, teammates called him "Caboose" -- always bringing up the rear. No career sacks.

DL -- Coleman Rudolph
(Round 2, 1993)

GM Dick Steinberg was desperate for defensive end, but picked wrong guy: Michael Strahan chosen four picks later.

LB -- Vernon Gholston (Round 1, 2008)

For $20 million, the Jets got zero sacks in three seasons from sixth overall pick. Oh, the pain.

LB -- Kurt Barber (Round 2, 1992)

Marginal special teamer for four seasons. Drafted wrong outside 'backer out of USC; should've picked Seau in '90.

LB -- Anthony Schlegel (Round 3, 2006)

Eric Mangini must have been blindfolded when watching tape of Schlegel. Too small, too slow. Already out of league.

DB -- Derrick Strait (Round 3, 2004)

So slow you could've timed him with a sun dial. Three years, three teams, retirement.

DB -- Justin Miller (Round 2, 2005)

Made Pro Bowl in '06 as kick returner, but clueless at cornerback. Out of football.

DB -- Scott Frost (Round 3, 1998)

Thought he'd be the next John Lynch -- college QB-turned-safety. More suited to Merrill Lynch.

DB -- Kevin Williams (Round 3, 1998)

Actually started a few games as a rookie, but got yanked by Parcells -- and downhill from there.

 

SPECIAL TEAMS

P/K -- Mike Nugent (Round 2, 2005)

Jets thought he was missing piece in championship puzzle. He was missing, all right -- always hurt.

 

> http://sports.espn.go.com/new-york/nfl/columns/story?columnist=cimini_rich&id=6399635

[sirlancemehlot]

Two firsts and a fourth. That's the worst draft value in the history of the draft for any player. Even a bowling ball with butcher knives. It effectively set Robertson up for failure since nobody on the Dlineman was going to live up to that ridiculous trade up.

[kelly]

Two firsts and a fourth. That's the worst draft value in the history of the draft for any player. Even a bowling ball with butcher knives. It effectively set Robertson up for failure since nobody on the Dlineman was going to live up to that ridiculous trade up.

NOT our best trade day

[kelly]

~ ~ along the same lines...


NFL Draft : Top Five Busts in New York Jets History

BUSTED ! How the New York Jets Have Bungled the NFL Draft

Oh, to be a New York Jets fan on Draft Day. The ecstasy, the agony. And oh, has there been agony.And with the NFL Draft's home stationed right in the heart of New York at Radio City Music Hall, the Jets Faithful are always out in full force, letting their feelings be known.This year might be no different considering the history of the New York Jets at the NFL Draft. So let's take a look back at the top five draft busts in team history.

But before we do that, let's give a nod to the (un)honorable mentions :

LB Bob Crable (1982, Round 1, 23 overall) - Two-time All-American at Notre Dame who played six non-descript seasons with the Jets. Andre Tippett, chosen 18 picks later by rival New England, went on to have a Hall of Fame career.

OT Mike Haight (1986, Round 1, 22 overall) - All-Big Ten selection his junior and senior seasons at the University of Iowa. Haight played seven years for the Jets, but only more than 10 games in three of those seasons.

WR Al Toon (1985, Round 1, 10 overall) and QB Ken O'Brien (1983, Round 1, 24 overall) - Toon, a Jets Ring of Honor recipient, and O'Brien, second all-time on the team's passing charts, were good pros. But six picks after the Jets selected Toon, the San Francisco 49ers selected Hall of Fame wide receiver Jerry Rice. Three picks after O'Brien in the 1983 NFL Draft, the Miami Dolphins took Dan Marino.

TE Johnny Mitchell (1992, Round 1, 15 overall) - A true physical specimen coming out of the University of Nebraska, his mouth was bigger than his game. In four seasons, he grabbed 158 catches for 2,086 yards and 16 TDs. If the Jets wanted someone to throw the ball to, they could've had either wide receiver Carl Pickens or Jimmy Smith.

Now, on to the real disappointments :

5. Most Any Jets Second-Round Pick. 1988-2006.

The Names: CB Terry Williams, WR Reggie Rembert, QB Browning Nagle, LB Kurt Barber, DE Coleman Rudolph, WR Ryan Yarborough, WR Alex Van Dyke, DT Rick Terry, DE Dorian Boose, RB LaMont Jordan, LB Victor Hobson, K Mike Nugent, QB Kellen Clemens

The Skinny: You don't expect second rounders to be All-Pros, but you do expect them to have productive careers. No one on that list fit that bill.

The Agony: The list of could've-been Jets reads like a Pro Bowl roster from the era - running backs Thurman Thomas, Ricky Watters, Tiki Barber, Frank Gore, and Maurice Jones-Drew; offensive linemen Dermontti Dawson, Keith Sims, Larry Allen and Marcus McNeill; wide receivers Terrell Owens, Anquan Boldin, Vincent Jackson and Greg Jennings; and defensive linemen Michael Strahan, Jason Taylor, Osi Umenyiora and Justin Tuck.

T-4. DT Dewayne Robertson. 2003, Round 1, 4 overall; DE Vernon Gholston. 2008, Round 1, 6 overall.

The Stats: Combined eight seasons, 122 games, 216 tackles, 14.5 sacks
The Skinny: Both were beasts coming out of college. Both were colossal busts. The Jets traded two first round picks to move up and select Robertson, who was compared to then-All-Pro Warren Sapp (more on him in a minute). Gholston, who had one stellar college season and was the darling of the NFL Scouting Combine in 2008, never recorded a single sack in his professional career.

The Agony: Two first-round draft picks gone, numbers 13 and 22, for Robertson, plus losing out on future Pro Bowlers Terrence Newman (no. 5 to Dallas), Kevin Williams (no. 9 to Minnesota), Terrell Suggs (no. 10 to Baltimore) and Troy Polamalu (no. 16 to Pittsburgh). In Gholston's case, New England snared linebacker Jerod Mayo four picks later (10 overall), while Denver got offensive tackle Ryan Clady (12 overall).

3. WR Johnny Lam Jones. 1980, Round 1, 2 overall

The Stats: Five seasons, 61 games, 138 receptions, 13 TDs
The Skinny: The Jets traded two first round picks to the San Francisco 49ers for the chance to draft the speedy Jones out of the University of Texas. While he could outrun anyone on the field, he couldn't hold onto the ball if his life depended on it. And as a wide receiver, it did.

The Agony: The very next pick belonged to the Cincinnati Bengals, who went and chose future Hall of Fame offensive tackle Anthony Munoz. Even if the Jets didn't make the trade and stayed put at nos. 13 and 20, they could've grabbed another wide receiver - future Hall of Famer Art Monk, who went number 18 overall to the Washington Redskins.

2. TE Kyle Brady. 1995, Round 1, 9 overall.

The Stats: Four seasons, 63 games, 93 receptions, 949 yards, 10 TDs
The Skinny: Just three years after spending a first round pick on TE Johnny Mitchell, the Jets went ahead and picked Brady, an All-American tight end from Penn State. Because you can never have too many first round tight ends.

The Agony: Jets fans in Radio City Music Hall were jumping up and down as they all expected the team to select decorated defensive lineman Warren Sapp out of the University of Miami. With Sapp in attendance, fans began chanting, "We Want Sapp." Commissioner Paul Tagliabue then read Brady's name, and the entire building collapsed in on itself. Or so Jets fans in attendance wished. Oh yeah: That Sapp fellow is a Hall of Famer today.

1. RB Blair Thomas. 1990, Round 1, 2 overall.

The Stats: Four seasons, 51 games, 2,009 yards rushing, 473 yards receiving, 7 TDs
The Skinny: Thomas was the pride of Penn State, leaving the school as one of its all-time greats. An All-American in 1989 who was second on the school's all-time rushing list, Thomas actually had semi-productive seasons as a part-time starter his first two seasons. A knee injury in 1992 lingered throughout his career, and he was never the same again.

The Agony: The third pick in that draft was future Hall of Fame defensive tackle Cortez Kennedy. The fifth pick, the late, great Junior Seau. And of course, with the 17th pick, the Dallas Cowboys selected arguably the greatest running back of all time, Hall of Famer Emmit Smith. Ouch, Jets fans.

Have any others I missed ? Disagree with my ranks ? Let me know in the comments below, or take the conversation to Twitter using the hashtag #YahooDraftBusts_Jets.

> http://sports.yahoo.com/news/nfl-dra...0425--nfl.html

[pedro55]

~ ~ along the same lines...

NFL Draft : Top Five Busts in New York Jets History

BUSTED ! How the New York Jets Have Bungled the NFL Draft

Oh, to be a New York Jets fan on Draft Day. The ecstasy, the agony. And oh, has there been agony.And with the NFL Draft's home stationed right in the heart of New York at Radio City Music Hall, the Jets Faithful are always out in full force, letting their feelings be known.This year might be no different considering the history of the New York Jets at the NFL Draft. So let's take a look back at the top five draft busts in team history.

But before we do that, let's give a nod to the (un)honorable mentions :

LB Bob Crable (1982, Round 1, 23 overall) - Two-time All-American at Notre Dame who played six non-descript seasons with the Jets. Andre Tippett, chosen 18 picks later by rival New England, went on to have a Hall of Fame career.

OT Mike Haight (1986, Round 1, 22 overall) - All-Big Ten selection his junior and senior seasons at the University of Iowa. Haight played seven years for the Jets, but only more than 10 games in three of those seasons.

WR Al Toon (1985, Round 1, 10 overall) and QB Ken O'Brien (1983, Round 1, 24 overall) - Toon, a Jets Ring of Honor recipient, and O'Brien, second all-time on the team's passing charts, were good pros. But six picks after the Jets selected Toon, the San Francisco 49ers selected Hall of Fame wide receiver Jerry Rice. Three picks after O'Brien in the 1983 NFL Draft, the Miami Dolphins took Dan Marino.

TE Johnny Mitchell (1992, Round 1, 15 overall) - A true physical specimen coming out of the University of Nebraska, his mouth was bigger than his game. In four seasons, he grabbed 158 catches for 2,086 yards and 16 TDs. If the Jets wanted someone to throw the ball to, they could've had either wide receiver Carl Pickens or Jimmy Smith.

Now, on to the real disappointments :

5. Most Any Jets Second-Round Pick. 1988-2006.

The Names: CB Terry Williams, WR Reggie Rembert, QB Browning Nagle, LB Kurt Barber, DE Coleman Rudolph, WR Ryan Yarborough, WR Alex Van Dyke, DT Rick Terry, DE Dorian Boose, RB LaMont Jordan, LB Victor Hobson, K Mike Nugent, QB Kellen Clemens

The Skinny: You don't expect second rounders to be All-Pros, but you do expect them to have productive careers. No one on that list fit that bill.

The Agony: The list of could've-been Jets reads like a Pro Bowl roster from the era - running backs Thurman Thomas, Ricky Watters, Tiki Barber, Frank Gore, and Maurice Jones-Drew; offensive linemen Dermontti Dawson, Keith Sims, Larry Allen and Marcus McNeill; wide receivers Terrell Owens, Anquan Boldin, Vincent Jackson and Greg Jennings; and defensive linemen Michael Strahan, Jason Taylor, Osi Umenyiora and Justin Tuck.

T-4. DT Dewayne Robertson. 2003, Round 1, 4 overall; DE Vernon Gholston. 2008, Round 1, 6 overall.

The Stats: Combined eight seasons, 122 games, 216 tackles, 14.5 sacks

The Skinny: Both were beasts coming out of college. Both were colossal busts. The Jets traded two first round picks to move up and select Robertson, who was compared to then-All-Pro Warren Sapp (more on him in a minute). Gholston, who had one stellar college season and was the darling of the NFL Scouting Combine in 2008, never recorded a single sack in his professional career.

The Agony: Two first-round draft picks gone, numbers 13 and 22, for Robertson, plus losing out on future Pro Bowlers Terrence Newman (no. 5 to Dallas), Kevin Williams (no. 9 to Minnesota), Terrell Suggs (no. 10 to Baltimore) and Troy Polamalu (no. 16 to Pittsburgh). In Gholston's case, New England snared linebacker Jerod Mayo four picks later (10 overall), while Denver got offensive tackle Ryan Clady (12 overall).

3. WR Johnny Lam Jones. 1980, Round 1, 2 overall

The Stats: Five seasons, 61 games, 138 receptions, 13 TDs

The Skinny: The Jets traded two first round picks to the San Francisco 49ers for the chance to draft the speedy Jones out of the University of Texas. While he could outrun anyone on the field, he couldn't hold onto the ball if his life depended on it. And as a wide receiver, it did.

The Agony: The very next pick belonged to the Cincinnati Bengals, who went and chose future Hall of Fame offensive tackle Anthony Munoz. Even if the Jets didn't make the trade and stayed put at nos. 13 and 20, they could've grabbed another wide receiver - future Hall of Famer Art Monk, who went number 18 overall to the Washington Redskins.

2. TE Kyle Brady. 1995, Round 1, 9 overall.

The Stats: Four seasons, 63 games, 93 receptions, 949 yards, 10 TDs

The Skinny: Just three years after spending a first round pick on TE Johnny Mitchell, the Jets went ahead and picked Brady, an All-American tight end from Penn State. Because you can never have too many first round tight ends.

The Agony: Jets fans in Radio City Music Hall were jumping up and down as they all expected the team to select decorated defensive lineman Warren Sapp out of the University of Miami. With Sapp in attendance, fans began chanting, "We Want Sapp." Commissioner Paul Tagliabue then read Brady's name, and the entire building collapsed in on itself. Or so Jets fans in attendance wished. Oh yeah: That Sapp fellow is a Hall of Famer today.

1. RB Blair Thomas. 1990, Round 1, 2 overall.

The Stats: Four seasons, 51 games, 2,009 yards rushing, 473 yards receiving, 7 TDs

The Skinny: Thomas was the pride of Penn State, leaving the school as one of its all-time greats. An All-American in 1989 who was second on the school's all-time rushing list, Thomas actually had semi-productive seasons as a part-time starter his first two seasons. A knee injury in 1992 lingered throughout his career, and he was never the same again.

The Agony: The third pick in that draft was future Hall of Fame defensive tackle Cortez Kennedy. The fifth pick, the late, great Junior Seau. And of course, with the 17th pick, the Dallas Cowboys selected arguably the greatest running back of all time, Hall of Famer Emmit Smith. Ouch, Jets fans.

Have any others I missed ? Disagree with my ranks ? Let me know in the comments below, or take the conversation to Twitter using the hashtag #YahooDraftBusts_Jets.

> http://sports.yahoo.com/news/nfl-dra...0425--nfl.html

 

  That Sapp miscue has to hurt the most.   Other years you can say they might've taken somebody else or they might've taken another bust. 

It wasn't like the Jets were the only ones who missed on the marinos or emmit smith's and so on.    

 

But taking Brady over Sapp made no sense to anybody, even experts.  Most people thought Sapp was going to be a great player.  Brady also played in an era where the TE wasn't like it is now.  So even if he was great, it wasn't like anybody could see a Tony Gonzalez, Antonio Gates, etc career.  

 

 And back to the 2nd rounders,  you could go even beyond 2006.   Dustin Keller was practically a 2nd round pick and he lasted only a few years and was ok, but nothing great. And the fact he's gone after what, 4 years, kind of says it wasn't a good pick.  They had no 2nd rounder in 2009, but took Greene in the 3rd round.  Ok, but another player gone now.  In 2010 you had Kyle Wilson late in first round who has been worse than anybody expected and in the 2nd round there was the drafting of Vladimir Ducasse and the cutting of Faneca.  Yeah that was a great move that worked out. Not. Ducasse isn't even a tackle anymore and really isn't a guard either. The guy is somebody who looked like he really never played football in his life at times.   2011 they had no 2nd round pick again but took Wilkerson late in the first.  He looks good and has potential. Who knows though.  It seems the Jets dump young guys as soon as they do become good and want to get paid.  And last year (2012) they picked Hil.  The guy had 21 receptions, was hurt, and who knows.  He doesn't look like somebody who will become some great WR. Maybe thats because of Sanchez, who knows. 

 

 

  I think some of the bad first round picks could be overlooked if they actually made some good picks in the 2nd round. But it is amazing that over a 20+ year period, the Jets have been so horrible in the 2nd round. Horrible as in the guys are long gone after a few seasons. Or never were anything to begin with.  

[kelly]

Top 5 drafts in Jets history

 

For the most part, the Jets haven't been a good drafting team, but there

have been a few exceptional classes in their history. Without

prejudice, we offer the ESPNNewYork.com top five classes (draft round in

parenthesis) :

1. 1977 (Coach: Walt Michaels)

Notables : T Marvin Powell (1), WR Wesley Walker

(2), RB Scott Dierking (4), DT Joe Klecko (6), RB Kevin Long (7), G Dan

Alexander (8), QB Matt Robinson (9).

Skinny : This was brilliant drafting. Scouting maven

Mike Holovak was the director of college scouting, the man largely

responsible for the best draft in team history. He found Klecko, one of

the all-time Jets, in the sixth round. Klecko, Powell and Walker

combined for 11 Pro Bowls, forming the nucleus of the team that reached

the 1982 AFC Championship Game. Alexander played 192 games and was rock

steady -- not bad for an eighth-round pick.

 

2. 2000 (Coach: Al Groh)

 

Notables : DE Shaun Ellis (1), DE John Abraham (1), QB Chad Pennington (1),

TE Anthony Becht (1), WR Laveranues Coles (3).

Skinny : Bill Parcells was in charge of this

historic draft, as the Jets became the only team in history with four

first-round picks. Because of a greater emphasis on the salary cap, we

might never see anything like it again. The Jets received two

first-round choices (Abraham and Becht) in the Keyshawn Johnson

trade with the Bucs, and another (Ellis) from the Patriots as

compensation for Bill Belichick. All four No. 1s became longtime

starters in the league, and Coles became one of the most prolific

receivers in team history. This draft was Parcells' going-away present

to the Jets.

3. 1964 (Coach: Weeb Ewbank)

Notables : RB Matt Snell (1), DE Gerry Philbin (3), LB Ralph Baker (6).

Skinny : This draft produced three mainstays on the

Super Bowl III team and a total of six who played at least 100 games in

the NFL. Snell holds the distinction of being the only player in team

history to score a touchdown in the Super Bowl. Snell made three Pro

Bowls, Philbin two. Philbin and Baker were sturdy players on a defense

that never received its proper due. Ewbank found Baker -- where else? --

at Linebacker U, Penn State.

4. 1965 (Coach: Ewbank)

Notables : QB Joe Namath (1), DE Verlon Biggs (3).

Skinny : It was pretty much a two-man draft, but one

of them happens to be the most famous player in franchise history --

Broadway Joe. He put the Jets on the map, played an instrumental role in

the NFL-AFL merger and was elected to the Pro Football Hall of Fame.

Sure, he threw too many interceptions, but you can't write a history of

the league without mentioning Namath. Biggs was an outstanding player, a

three-time Pro Bowler.

5. 2006 (Coach: Eric Mangini)

Notables : T D'Brickashaw Ferguson (1), C Nick Mangold (1), S Eric Smith (3),

WR Brad Smith (4), KR Leon Washington (4).

Skinny : Mangini and first-year GM Mike Tannenbaum

put their young heads together and delivered a terrific draft. It wasn't

sexy -- two offensive linemen in the first round -- but it was

productive. Ferguson and Mangold have combined for seven Pro Bowls --

and counting. This class provided the foundation for the 2009 and 2010

playoff teams. Washington was an all-purpose dynamo and Brad Smith was a

valuable role player, contributing in a variety of ways.

 

> http://espn.go.com/blog/new-york/jets/post/_/id/21844/top-5-drafts-in-jets-history