Re-Grading New York Jets' Past 5 Drafts

Grading the draft in its immediate aftermath is an exercise in futility.

There are so many factors that will contribute to whether or not a particular pick, much less a team's draft class, will be successful.

Among those factors is consistency in the coaching staff, at the quarterback position and in the front office.

The New York Jets have had none of those three factors in their favor, with changes at all three positions over the past few seasons. Sure, some players are individually talented and will make an impact on their own regardless of those outside factors, but ultimately, it's difficult for anyone to have the kind of impact the Jets need to get them over the hump and into the playoffs without consistency in the coaching staff, front office and quarterback.

Nonetheless, we'll do our best to put grades on the past five drafts for the Jets.

2010

Bill Kostroun/Associated Press

Round	Pick	Player	Position
1	29	Kyle Wilson	CB
2	61	Vlad Ducasse	T
4	112	Joe McKnight	RB
5	139	John Conner	FB

Best Pick: Kyle Wilson

Kyle Wilson is the best pick in the Jets' 2010 draft. That tells you a lot about how this team has been built over the years and why the Jets have struggled recently, particularly at cornerback. In 2014, Wilson yielded completions on 73.3 percent of the throws into his coverage, according to Pro Football Focus. It should come as no surprise that the Jets have moved in a completely different direction at cornerback.

Worst Pick: Vlad Ducasse

The Jets had hoped that Vlad Ducasse could develop into a starting offensive lineman, but the former second-round pick never panned out to be anything more than a backup. The Jets tried him at guard and were not rewarded for their creativity, as he only continued his downward spiral.

Should Have Had That Guy: Jerry Hughes

The Jets took Wilson at No. 29, and two picks later, the Indianapolis Colts took defensive end Jerry Hughes off the board. Hughes did not pan out for the Colts either, but his time with the Buffalo Bills has been a great success. He has notched 10 sacks or more in each of the past two years. The Jets would love to have that kind of edge presence this year.

Overall Grade: D+

Joe McKnight made a Pro Bowl as a kick returner and notched more than 1,000 return yards in 2011 and 2012, but other than that, the Jets have not gotten much (if any) return on their investments in the 2010 draft. 

2011

Seth Wenig/Associated Press

Round	Pick	Player	Position
1	30	Muhammad Wilkerson	DT
3	94	Kenrick Ellis	DT
4	126	Bilal Powell	RB
5	153	Jeremy Kerley	WR
7	208	Greg McElroy	QB
7	227	Scotty McKnight	WR

Best Pick: Muhammad Wilkerson

Muhammad Wilkerson would be considered the best 5-technique defensive end in the NFL were it not for J.J. Watt, whose selection in the top half of the first round in 2011 has overshadowed Wilkerson to an extent. That being said, Wilkerson's ability to eat up multiple blockers and beat them into the backfield has been vital to the Jets' success in the 3-4 defense, and that should continue with Todd Bowles leading the charge.

Worst Pick: Greg McElroy

The Jets never expected Greg McElroy to be anything more than a backup quarterback, which is fortunate because he didn't even last through the 2012 season with the team. Of course, it's hard to knock on a seventh-round pick as a "bad pick," since the likelihood of success at that point is low. 

Should Have Had That Guy: Jordan Cameron

The Jets took Kenrick Ellis off the board with their third-round pick but missed out on tight end Jordan Cameron in the process. Ellis has not panned out to be more than a backup, albeit a serviceable one, while Cameron has shown the potential to be a dominant tight end if he can stay clear of concussions. 

Overall Grade: A

The Jets found a Pro Bowl-caliber defensive tackle, a solid slot receiver and a serviceable running back for their rotation in this draft. With only six picks, that's a success rate of around 50 percent. If that's not worthy of an A, I don't know what is.

2012

James Kenney/Associated Press

Round	Pick	Player	Position
1	16	Quinton Coples	DE
2	43	Stephen Hill	WR
3	77	Demario Davis	LB
6	187	Josh Bush	DB
6	202	Terrance Ganaway	RB
6	203	Robert Griffin	OL
7	242	Antonio Allen	DB
7	244	Jordan White	WR

Best Pick: Demario Davis

Quinton Coples has shown flashes of being a worthy first-round choice, but Demario Davis has been remarkably consistent since entering the NFL. Rex Ryan was quick to compare Davis to former Baltimore Ravens linebacker Ray Lewis, and while he may not live up to that lofty comparison, he's been a rock in the middle of the Jets defense for his athleticism and tough-nosed mentality. 

Worst Pick: Stephen Hill

In 2012, Stephen Hill blew up the scouting combine with eye-popping performances in the 40-yard dash (4.36 seconds), and with a freakish frame (6'4", 215 pounds, 33.4" arms), he was seen as a raw prospect with the potential to become a matchup nightmare. The only nightmare was his development, which was stonewalled by the Jets' lack of talent at quarterback. Who knows what could have been if the Jets had had a serviceable passer; they have been asking themselves that question for years. 

Should Have Had That Guy: Alshon Jeffery

It must be painful for Jets fans to look at a rundown of the 2012 draft and know that they had a chance to grab Chicago Bears wide receiver Alshon Jeffery but passed on him to take Stephen Hill instead. Jeffery has gone on to haul in 174 passes for 2,554 yards and 17 touchdowns in the past two seasons; Hill's production in his entire career is not even 25 percent of that. 

Overall Grade: B+

Coples has shown signs of developing into a talented pass-rusher, though he's yet to hit the 10-sack plateau in a season. He could find more success in Todd Bowles' scheme. Davis has developed into a worthy starting linebacker in the middle of the Jets defense and should continue to be a key in the 3-4 defense. Other than that, this draft has not provided much, but those two players make for a decent haul. 

2013

Rich Schultz/Associated Press

Round	Pick	Player	Position
1	9	Dee Milliner	CB
1	13	Sheldon Richardson	DT
2	39	Geno Smith	QB
3	72	Brian Winters	OL
5	141	Oday Aboushi	OL
6	178	William Campbell	OL
7	215	Tommy Bohanon	FB

Best Pick: Sheldon Richardson

This one is a no-brainer. Sheldon Richardson was the Defensive Rookie of the Year in 2013 and has solidified himself as one of the premier defensive tackles in the league. He notched eight sacks in 2014 and earned a Pro Bowl selection in the process. Even with the Jets' coaching changes, Richardson figures to be a key player in the defense for years to come. 

Worst Pick: Brian Winters

This one is a toss-up between Geno Smith and Brian Winters, but there's still a chance that Smith could develop into a decent backup quarterback. Winters has yet to show any signs of life as a competent offensive lineman. Part of the problem is a position change; Winters was a tackle in college and is now playing guard in the NFL. Plus, with how bad Mark Sanchez had been playing up to this point, one can hardly fault the Jets for trying their hand with Smith. 

Should Have Had That Guy: Desmond Trufant

The Jets used one of their first-round picks on cornerback Dee Milliner, and while the pick was smart enough at the time—the Jets had just traded Darrelle Revis—it did not pan out the way they had hoped. Thirteen picks later, the Atlanta Falcons selected Desmond Trufant, who just finished the 2014 season as Pro Football Focus' sixth-best cornerback. 

Milliner is now on the outside looking in at a stacked cornerback depth chart; if the Jets had taken Trufant instead, they may not have had to spend all that money to bring in Antonio Cromartie and Buster Skrine—though I'm sure they would have still paid the king's ransom for Revis. 

Overall Grade: C+

Richardson's dominance alone is enough to prop this grade up a bit, but the misses on Milliner, Smith and Winters cannot be ignored. 

2014

Jeff Haynes/Associated Press

Round	Pick	Player	Position
1	18	Calvin Pryor	S
2	49	Jace Amaro	TE
3	80	Dexter McDougle	DB
4	104	Jalen Saunders	WR
4	115	Shaquelle Evans	WR
4	137	Dakota Dozier	OL
5	154	Jeremiah George	LB
6	195	Brandon Dixon	DB
6	209	Quincy Enunwa	WR
6	210	IK Enemkpali	DE
6	213	Tajh Boyd	QB
7	233	Trevor Reilly	LB

Best Pick: Calvin Pryor

Pryor was the best pick in the 2014 haul. That tells you quite a bit about this draft class. 

His 2014 season got off to a rough start, but some of his problems were attributable to his playing out of position. He was drafted to be an enforcer at strong safety and was never meant to roam the deep half as a free safety, so it stands to reason that he had a bit of a bull's-eye on his chest once he started playing Cover 1. That being said, he showed signs of promise down the stretch as the Jets began to put him in better position to succeed by lining him up closer to the line of scrimmage. 

Worst Pick: Jalen Saunders

Again, it's tough to be too hard on a team for missing on a fourth-round pick. Some of those players pan out, but many don't. That being said, the Jets had a clear need for a playmaking wide receiver and took three shots at the board, but by the time they had done so, it was far too late to find a real game-changer. Saunders spent the 2014 season bouncing around with four teams.

Should Have Had That Guy: Davante Adams

Ordinarily, I would say it's too soon to tell whether the Jets should have taken someone else instead of a particular player they drafted. That being said, while Jace Amaro still has time to develop into the tight end they hoped he'd become when they took him in the second round, one player who could have definitely helped is Davante Adams. The Green Bay Packers took him off the board a handful of picks after the Jets took Amaro, and for their troubles, they have found a versatile matchup receiver who can line up outside and inside to create headaches for a defense.

Overall Grade: Incomplete

With only one year worth of a sample size on these players, there's simply not enough to base a grade off of. If I had a gun to my head, though, I'd give this draft a D.

Pryor and Amaro are the only players with a real chance to contribute to the roster in 2014. Ordinarily, two players wouldn't be a bad haul, but with 12 players, that's a batting average of less than .200. The Jets are hoping Amaro pans out and develops into a versatile weapon at tight end, and they're also hoping Pryor can play better at his natural position than he did when he was lining up at free safety.

Until we get some results on those hopes, though, it's hard to give the Jets a resounding grade for their efforts in 2014. Eight of the 12 players are still on the roster, but only two are real factors in the lineup. That's part of the reason why former general manager John Idzik no longer has a job.