Did you know that the NFL Draft is still taking place? Amazingly, the draft will still be held during #CoronaSZN, albeit under (ahem) contained circumstances on April 23-25. The New York Jets have some flexibility and depending on who you ask, lots of experts have the Jets taking a tackle or a wide receiver. The 2020 NFL Draft is not deficient of either. The upcoming draft had me thinking retrospectively of the Jets best and worst NFL Draft first-round picks.
As all lists are subjective, here is my ranking of five best Jets first-round draft picks.
5. (tie) D’Brickashaw Ferguson/Nick Mangold (2006)
After a disastrous 2005 season, the Jets looked to rebuild their offensive line. With two first-round picks in the 2006 NFL Draft, they did just that. Their first overall pick at number four overall was Ferguson, regarded as one of the best tackles in the nation. After trading DE John Abraham to Atlanta, the Jets selected Mangold with the 29th overall pick. Both men became the anchors of the Jets’ offensive line that finished first in team rushing in 2009. Ferguson never missed a game in his ten-year career and appeared in three Pro Bowls. Mangold appeared in seven Pro Bowls and was a first-team All-Pro in 2009 and 2010.
4. Ken O’Brien (1983)
The 1983 NFL Draft was considered one of the greatest draft classes in league history. Seven players selected in the first round of the draft have been elected to the NFL Hall of Fame. Lost in that draft was Cal-Davis’ Ken O’Brien, a little-known Division II quarterback. But O’Brien would have one of the greatest careers as a Jets quarterback. in ten seasons, O’Brien led the Jets to three playoff appearances and earned Pro Bowl honors twice (1985, 1991). His best season was 1986 when he had one of the best statistical seasons for any Jets QB: 300 completions, 3,690 yards, and 25 touchdowns.
3. Keyshawn Johnson (1996)
The Jets had the distinction of earning – so to speak – the number one pick in the 1996 NFL Draft. This was the only time in team history they’ve ever chosen first in the draft and they had to make it count. Johnson talked the talk (which got him in trouble at times) but backed it up with his game. He declared for the NFL Draft after his junior year at USC and the Jets selected him as the first overall pick. After cutting his teeth in 1996, he flourished under Bill Parcells, earning Pro Bowl honors in 1998 and 1999. Johnson was traded to Tampa Bay before the 2000 NFL Draft, but he helped make the Jets a contender in the late 1990’s.
2. Darrelle Revis (2007)
The Jets traded three picks (25th, 59th, and 164th) to Carolina for two Panthers picks (14th and 191st overall) and selected Revis. For the next six seasons, Revis became the Jets’ shutdown corner and any receivers that entered “Revis Island” simply disappeared. He was a member of one of the best defenses in football that helped the Jets go to the AFC Championship in consecutive seasons. As a Jet, Revis was elected to the Pro Bowl five times and was a First Team All-Pro in three consecutive seasons (2009-2011).
1. Joe Namath (1965)
Namath was selected by the Jets in the first round of the 1965 AFL Draft as well as the St. Louis Cardinals in the NFL Draft. He chose the Jets and we all know what happened after that. Namath led the AFL in passing in 1966 and 1967, was named AFL Player of the Year in 1968. In 1969, he helped give the AFL legitimacy with an upset of Baltimore in Super Bowl III. Namath won 1974 Comeback Player of the Year after leading the league in passing touchdowns and game-winning drives. “Broadway Joe” still holds several individual team records, including career and single-season passing yards and touchdowns.
Honorable Mention: Matt Snell (1964), Marty Lyons (1979), Aaron Glenn (Class of 1994), Shaun Ellis (2000).
Did I miss anyone? Let me know in the comments or hit me up on Twitter: @WhoIsRyanMcC. And please read all of our NFL coverage!
