Per Ian Rapoport of NFL Network, the New York Jets traded the 48th overall pick of the 2020 NFL Draft to the Seattle Seahawks. New York will get back the 59th and 101st selections.
Seattle would use the pick on Tennessee defensive Darrell Taylor. The Knoxville alum and Hopewell, Virginia native had 19.5 sacks over the past three seasons, including a career-best 8.5 last year. He notably put up six tackles and 1.5 sacks in the Volunteers’ narrow victory over Indiana in the Taxslayer Gator Bowl in January.
The Jets now own four picks during Friday’s proceedings. They will choose in the 59th, 68th, 78th, and 101st. The most latter pick was a compensatory pick for the Seahawks after safety Earl Thomas left in free agency.
The New York Giants‘ offensive line has been among the worst in the league for the past couple of seasons. Kevin Zeitler was a huge addition to the Giants’ offensive line in the 2019 season. However, Nate Solder and Mike Remmers haven’t provided that same steady performance.
Solder’s 57 pressures allowed this season are seven more than any other player in the NFL. Solder and Remmers 97 combined pressures allowed was the most in the NFL this season (PFF). The Giants needed to address the problem of the struggling offensive line in this year’s NFL Draft and they certainly made improvements after the first round last night.
With the fourth overall pick, the New York Giants selected Andrew Thomas, OT, Georgia. Thomas is an absolute freak of nature! Standing at 6’5″, and weighing 315 Ibs, a very agile big man who has quick feet and can run and pass block against the best of the best as he did in his collegiate carrier. Thomas was no doubt the best and most pure left tackle in the draft class. This draft choice was a huge win for the Giants, giving Daniel Jones more time in the pocket, and opening up running lanes for Saquon Barkley!
What the Giants should do tonight :
The Giants hold the 36th overall pick in the second round of the NFL Draft. There is still so much talent on the board. New York can’t go wrong with drafting a guy like Antoine Winfield the safety from Minnesota, or Zack Baun the linebacker from Wisconsin.
Josh Jones, OT, Houston a strong option:
The Giants could stack their offensive line by drafting Josh Jones, (OT) from Houston. Jones is another freak of nature who could potentially fill the need at right tackle for the Giants. Jones, like Thomas, is 6’5″, 319 Ibs, and is very quick out of his stance when asked to pull block. Jones does a great job of reaching the second level of blockers and improved tremendously as his season went on. Jones went from a second-round pick who would need more time to develop, to a day one starter and a potential first-round pick.
Josh Jones has excellent lateral-slide smoothness to handle mirroring duties. He is able to get to difficult reach blocks on the play-side and back-side. Both Thomas and Jones have experience at left tackle and right tackle. If Jones is drafted by Giants, expect to see the two switching sides to throw defenses for a ride. Jones may not have the footwork like Thomas does, but he makes up for it with his pure athleticism.
What The Giants should do with Nate Solder:
It’s going to be interesting to see what the Giants do with Nate Solder if they go offensive tackle in round two. The Giants could look to trade Solder for draft capital, but the problem is, who wants the guy? Solder had a season to forget in 2019 and is losing value. He allowed 11 sacks which were the second-most in the NFL this year. Jones could sit behind Solder for a year and develop, but it might be best for the Giants’ to start him from day one.
The New York Giants have a chance to fix their offensive line struggles and build a line that can be set and stone for the next seven to eight years. Adding Andrew Thomas and, hopefully, Josh Jones, will create an amazing pocket for Danny Dimes to throw the ball, and also give star running back Saquon Barkley the holes and lanes he’s been seeking for the past two seasons. For these reasons, if he manages to fall to pick thirty-six, the Giants should draft Josh Jones.
The New York Giants secured their left tackle of the future in the first round of the 2020 NFL Draft. With the fourth overall pick, the Giants selected offensive tackle Andrew Thomas out of Georgia. Thomas has not allowed more than two pressures in a game since 2017 and is set to make an immediate-impact with Big Blue (statistic via PFF).
Heading into day two, there are plenty of intriguing options for the Giants to decide on. The draft board is still loaded with defensive talents, such as safety Xavier McKinney and edge rushers Zack Baun and Yetur Gross-Matos. It would be no surprise to see the Giants stay put and select a defensive prospect. But there is the possibility that New York elects to trade down.
Why Trade Down?
The Giants will be picking thirty-sixth overall today (the fourth pick of the second round). They will then have to wait until pick ninety-nine to make another selection. If the Giants stay put here, they will have sixty-three players drafted between their two selections. According to reports from the New York Post, trading down from thirty-six is something the Gmen are considering.
What Could the Giants Get From Trading Down?
The purpose of trading down from thirty-sixth overall would be to acquire an additional pick somewhere in the third round. New York traded away its original third-round selection (sixty-eighth overall) to the New York Jets to acquire Leonard Williams. It would be wise for the Giants to try to recoup a third-round selection in a trade today.
There are a few teams with multiple third-round draft picks that might look to move up in the second round. Among those teams are the Jets, the Vikings, the Broncos, the Raiders, and the Ravens. Ryan Dunleavy of the NY Post put out this intriguing mock-trade scenario on Twitter:
Hey, I've got a trade idea! #Jets trade up for No. 36. #Giants trade back to No. 48 and add pick No. 68 (AKA the Leonard Williams pick) in return! If that's too rich, #Jets also have No. 79. God, we'd have fun with that one. And it makes sense for both teams, too. https://t.co/evgFDSUFrz
Dunleavy’s mock-trade is a realistic possibility. If the Giants were to trade down today, they would likely be looking to acquire picks similar to the ones Ryan suggested in the third round. Trading down would allow the Giants to land an additional prospect in the third-round, a round that often sees players develop into quality NFL starters.
The New York Jets added another stone to their blocking gauntlet in the form of Mekhi Becton. What comes next in Friday’s pair of rounds?
One pick down, seven to go.
The virtual draft fun has just begun for the New York Jets, who will be on the board three times when the second and third rounds commence on Friday night (7:00 p.m. ET, ABC/ESPN/ESPN2/NFL Network).
Many felt the Jets got off to a good start with the selection of Louisville offensive lineman Mekhi Becton at No. 11 overall, the team knows there is still work to be done.
General manager Joe Douglas knows about the big opportunity the Jets have on Friday. New York was allotted the 48th and 79th selections on the draft board and also own the 68th pick, obtained from the New York Giants in a trade for Leonard Williams.
“I don’t take this opportunity lightly,” Douglas said before the draft, per Brian Costello of the New York Post. “We’ve got eight picks and four in the top 79. We have to do our best to get the right type of player, the right type of person that’s going to come in here and turn things around and get us going in the right direction. We’ve seen impact drafts make a real difference in a short time.”
What should Jets fans expect in the draft’s first post-Becton stages? ESM has three possibilities…
Catch A Receiver
Becton’s name was called before any of the draft’s renowned receiving corps. Shortly after, the catchers flew off the board. Henry Ruggs was first chosen by Las Vegas immediately after the Jets’ choice. Jerry Jeudy and CeeDee Lamb respectively went to Denver and Dallas at Nos. 15 and 17.
Though the latter stages took out three more (Jalen Reagor, Justin Jefferson, and Brandon Aiyuk), plenty of viable options are still on the board and should be available by the time the Jets choose at No. 48. Clemson’s Tee Higgins and Baylor’s Denzel Mims might not make it there, but Michael Pittman and his strong hands could be a viable option. The sizable Laviska Shenault of Colorado is another intriguing Pac-12 product, while the small but speedy Chase Claypool of Notre Dame will draw suitors as well.
Though veterans will return (Jamison Crowder and the injured Quincy Enunwa) and they added Bredshad Perriman in free agency, the Jets are in need of explosive receiver help. Such an option can indeed be found on day two. Second-day yields on the receiver front from the past five drafts alone include Michael Thomas, JuJu Smith-Schuster, Cooper Kupp, Chris Godwin, and Courtland Sutton, among others.
Defensive Struggle
This day two defensive struggle comes in the sweetest form: there are so many viable depth options for the Jets that it’s going to be hard to make a decision, even if a little extra capital is headed their way after the Williams trade.
While the Jets shored up their blocking on Thursday and will probably address their receiver situation at some point in the draft’s middle portions, the team must emerge from Friday’s proceedings with pass rush and secondary assistance. The former took on added importance during the first round, as Miami’s first selection means the Jets are going to have to deal with the arm and legs of Tua Tagovailoa twice a year in the near future.
The Jets dealt one of their premiere pass rushers to earn an extra pick, so it would perhaps be poetic to welcome in a replacement. It might be a little too much to hope for to see both Zach Baun and A.J. Epenesa to fall into the Jets’ grasp, but their comrade Yetur Gross-Matos might be well on his way. Bradlee Anae and Curtis Weaver have each made appearances in ESM mock drafts. In the secondary, Jaylon Johnson and Bryce Hall should be watched on the cornerback front.
Don’t Block the Idea of Another Blocker
The Jets’ offensive line has featured more renovation than an afternoon block of HGTV programming. Some saw Becton has the finishing touch, set to join a unit that already welcomed in George Fant, Greg Van Roten, and Connor McGovern (among several other depth additions) in through free agency proceedings.
But if Joe Douglas has made one thing clear, its that he views blocking as indispensable. His regime has done away with the blocking negligence of the Mike Maccagnan era and has instead brought it to the forefront of offseason concerns. Day two could be a day to stockpile depth on the line, ones who can stoke the fires of potential training camp competition.
Boise State tackle Ezra Cleveland is probably the top lineman available on Friday, but the Jets will probably look to bolster their interior units. Michigan’s Ben Bredeson would be an intriguing option in round three, as his experience on the left side could give returnee Alex Lewis some competition. LSU’s Damien Lewis could also put some heat on veteran Brian Winters.
As draft day approaches, ESM looks back on the best players chosen in the New York Jets’ current draft slots.
The New York Jets currently own eight draft picks in the 2020 NFL Draft, which begins on Thursday night in a virtual setting (8:00 p.m. ET, ESPN/ABC/NFL Network).
To commemorate the path to the draft, ESM counts down the greatest picks chosen in their respective positions. Our series concludes with none than the No. 11 pick, the Jets first selection once things get underway in the virtual arena. Our final installment is particularly special, so we rounded things off at the 11 best picks in the 11th slot…
1950: OL/DT Leo Nomellini, San Francisco
Nomellini was born in Tuscany before immigrating to Minnesota as an infant. He would go on to star with the University of Minnesota’s Golden Gophers, earning All-American honors twice before becoming the first NFL Draft selection of the San Francisco 49ers upon their transfer from the All-America Football Conference. Two-way exploits awaited Nomellini in the NFL. He wound up playing 14-years in the league, with ten of those seasons ending in Pro Bowl visits and six All-Pro nominations. Post-football, Nomellini also worked as a professional wrestler, as seen above. He was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1969.
1952: RB/WR/DB Frank Gifford, NY Giants
Gifford’s eight career Pro Bowls were earned through three different positions. His story is one of the more inspiring in NFL history. A hard hit from Philadelphia’s Chuck Bednarik forced him into an early retirement in 1960. But, after nearly 18 months on the mend, he returned to NFL action and won the Comeback Player of the Year Award. Other accolades include 1956’s MVP and a spot on the 1950s All-Decade team. Gifford reached Canton in 1977 and later served as an analyst on Monday Night Football.
1953: DE Doug Atkins, Cleveland
Decades before the sack became an official stat, Atkins was striking fear into the hearts of quarterbacks everywhere during a career spent primarily with the Chicago Bears. Many contemporary NFL Network viewers were introduced to Atkins last season when he was named to the NFL’s 100th Anniversary team. He also appeared on the 1960s edition of the All-Decade team. He used his track and field prowess, particularly that in the high jump, to invade opposing backfields. Appropriately, the final play of his NFL career was a sack, with Pittsburgh throw Dick Shiner being the victim. Atkins got his invitation to Canton in 1982.
Yet another Canton invitee, Warfield continues to hold the NFL record for yards per reception amongst players with at least 300 receptions (20.1). Warfield accomplished plenty during a six-year tenure Cleveland tenure, he’s perhaps best-known for his exploits with the Miami Dolphins. So great was Warfield’s reputation (he reached eight Pro Bowls and seven All-Pro squads) that President Richard Nixon personally suggested a play to Miami head coach Don Shula during their 1972 Super Bowl appearance against Dallas. The Dolphins lost that game, but Warfield wound up being their leading receiver during the ensuing route to perfection.
1988: WR Michael Irvin, Dallas
Irvin was a metroplex trivia answer long before he took the field at Texas Stadium. He was the last first round pick of the holy Dallas decision-making trinity of Tex Schramm, Gil Brandt, and Tom Landry. The Miami alum was granted starting duties immediately and was also bestowed the numeral 88, becoming the first Cowboy to wear the number since Drew Pearson’s 1983 retirement. Schramm predicted that the drafting of Irvin would “speed (Dallas’) return to the living” after a string of losing seasons. Irvin did that and then some, forming the legendary “Triplets” group with fellow first-rounders Troy Aikman and Emmitt Smith. Dallas won three Super Bowls and Irvin and his 11,904 yards and 65 touchdowns landed him in the Hall of Fame.
2002: DE Dwight Freeney, Indianapolis
New York serendipity was not to be for Freeney, a Syracuse alum who grew up idolizing Lawrence Taylor. Instead, he went to a Colts squad desperate to surround Peyton Manning, Edgerrin James, and Marvin Harrison with a competent defense. Freeney almost accomplished the task on his own. The first nine of 47 career forced fumbles came in his rookie season, the debut of an 11-year career with the Colts. That championship finally came in 2007, when the Colts topped Chicago. Freeney is eligible for the Hall of Fame in 2022.
2004: QB Ben Roethlisberger, Pittsburgh
The 11th pick of the 2004 draft yielded one of the historic selections of the quarterback class. After the chaos of the Eli Manning-Phillip Rivers situation, Roethlisberger went to the Steelers. He usurped the job from Tommy Maddox early in his rookie season and won his first 13 starts. One year later, Pittsburgh earned its fifth Super Bowl, and Roethlisberger would author a sixth journey during the 2008-09 season. In spite of his many accomplishments (including six Pro Bowls and topping the passing yardage list twice), controversy hasn’t eluded Roethlisberger, who was accused of sexual assault at the turn of the decade on numerous occasions.
Controversy initially reigned when the Cowboys took Ware out of Troy with the 11th pick, passing San Diego-bound Shawne Merriman. While Merriman had a decent, if all too brief, career, Ware turned himself into a legend. After nine years in Dallas (in which he built a sizable lead on the team’s sack list), Ware moved onto Denver, where he captured an elusive Super Bowl title. He tallied five tackles, including two sacks, in the 24-10 win over Carolina.
2007: LB Patrick Willis, San Francisco
Unfortunately, injuries ended Willis’ career in 2014 before it could truly get going, but he made the most out of what he had. He led the league in tackles twice, and also put up 53 pass defenses and 16 forced fumbles. His career ended with a Pro Bowl appearance in all but his final season (which was cut short due to the fateful toe injury that led him to a premature departure) and he was able to reach the NFL’s All-2010s team, despite playing only three full seasons in the decade.
2011: DE J.J. Watt, Houston
The face of the NFL almost always appears to be a quarterback, and this current state of the league doesn’t appear to afford an exception with Patrick Mahomes looking like the most likely candidate. Watt, however, is doing what we can to turn favor over to the defense. His impressive resume, earned despite dealing with numerous injuries, speaks for itself (three-time NFL Defensive Player of the Year, 95.5 sacks), but Watt has also made an impact off the field with numerous charitable endeavors, notably raising over $37 million to help his loyalists from the Houston area recover from Hurrican Harvey.
In 2012, the Kansas Chiefs found the quarterback they were looking for. Patrick who? It’s actually Poe, who owns a perfect career passer rating of 158.3 thanks to his Christmas Eve toss in 2016 that went for a score. He hasn’t been so bad on defense either, putting up 278 tackles and 20.5 sacks over eight seasons so far. The 2013 All-Pro nominee and two-time Pro Bowler recently inked a two-year deal with the Cowboys.
With the NFL Draft rapidly approaching, over the next few days, I plan on breaking down the best and brightest talents in this year’s class. This class is full of some unique prospects. There is a plethora of depth, but there are 5 guys who really stand out to me.
1. Chase Young, Ohio State
Pro Comparison: Jadeveon Clowney
I don’t know if there is a single-player as talented as Young in this class. Young wreaked havoc on college football this year. Young is going to be an absolute ANIMAL at the next level. He’s going to be an absolute superstar. There’s not much for me to nitpick in his game so I won’t even try. Clowney is a physical specimen just like Young and I think Young is going to be that type of game wrecker at the next level.
2. Zach Baun, Wisconsin
Pro Comparison: T.J. Watt
Zach Baun is one of my favorite prospects. Baun is another high IQ linebacker who is very good with his hands to come from Wisconsin. He’s explosive and he’s put up solid numbers at Wisconsin. Baun could struggle if he doesn’t gain a little more size, but Baun has the makeup to be a very talented player at the next level. Watt was a great edge rusher from Wisconsin and Baun can continue that trend.
3. Yetur Gross Matos, Penn State
Pro Comparison: Cameron Wake
Gross Matos was one of my favorite players to watch last year. He was so good against the run, in fact, he was a lot better than Chaisson and Epenesa last year, two guys he’s often bundled with. He was a very productive edge rusher last season. He was able to be a force against the run and against the pass. He also allowed for stellar production from the guys around him. At the very least, he’s going to be an average defensive end. At best, Gross Matos could be a very productive edge rusher. The ceiling is high, but his floor isn’t low. He’s a safe prospect. He lacks the speed that guys like Chaisson and a Young have, but he makes up for it in strength and size. Wake was a productive edge rusher who’s a unique blend of size and speed is reminiscent of Gross Matos.
4. K’Lavon Chaisson, LSU
Pro Comparison: Vic Beasley
I’m not entirely sold on Chaisson. I think he’s a very good edge rusher. He’s good at disrupting the pass with good speed and good hands. Overall, Chaisson has great potential as an edge rusher. However, Chaisson has bust potential. He struggles with the run and he definitely needs to develop as a run stopper. Chaisson reminds me of Beasley because of his ability to be a productive sack producer and average in the run game.
5. Bradlee Anae, Utah
Pro Comparison: Kamalei Correa
Bradlee Anae is a unique prospect. Anae plays with a chip on his shoulder and demonstrates a lot of heart on the field. He’s a good run stopper and a good pass rusher. He’s not elite, but he’s efficient. Anae has good speed and strength. Anae does struggle with really asserting his dominance and using length to an advantage. He’s kind of the opposite of Gross Matos where Anae would be best suited at linebacker rather than at the end. Anae reminds me of Correa because if their abilities to play with lots of energy and effort and both are high character guys with versatility.
As draft day approaches, ESM looks back on the best players chosen in the New York Jets’ current draft slots.
The New York Jets currently own eight draft picks in the 2020 NFL Draft, which begins on Thursday night in a virtual setting (8:00 p.m. ET, ESPN/ABC/NFL Network).
To commemorate the path to the draft, ESM counts down the greatest picks chosen in their respective positions. The penultimate installment deals with the Jets’ second pick of the draft, coming at No. 48…
1980: C Dwight Stephenson, Miami
It was hard to draw praise from Bear Bryant, but the notoriously stoic Alabama football coach called Stephenson “a man among children”. It took him little time to win starting duties with the Dolphins and he later became the anchor for a line that allowed the fewest sacks in football for six straight seasons. Stephenson’s career was cut short due to a devastating knee injury suffered in a 1987 tilt against the Jets, but he nonetheless earned Hall of Fame honors in 1998. Other honors include 1985’s NFL Man of the Year Award for his community service and the fact that Pro Football Focus bestows the Dwight Stephenson Award to the blocker they deem best, regardless of position.
1981: DE Howie Long, LA Raiders
Thanks to the antics of Jay Wright, we’re used to seeing Villanova athletes early in drafts…albeit on the basketball circuit. Long’s selection from the Division I-AA Wildcats was quickly well justified, as he went on to bring home eight Pro Bowl nods and the Super Bowl XVIII title, where he and the Raiders’ defense held the lauded Washington run game to 90 yards on 32 carries. After a brief acting career as an action film star (headlining the 1998 film Firestarter), Long made a name for himself as a part of Fox’s NFL coverage.
1990: DB LeRoy Butler, Green Bay
Butler accomplished plenty during a career spent entirely with the Packers. He missed just four games over his first ten seasons and reached four Pro Bowls. His most permanent legacy, however, is his status as the originator of the Lambeau Leap. Butler’s touchdown scored in a 1993 blowout win over the Raiders officially began the Packers’ 1990s heyday, clinching the first of six straight playoff trips. He would play a huge part in helping the Packers bring the Vince Lombardi Trophy back home to Wisconsin in 1997, earning a sack of Drew Bledsoe in the 35-21 triumph over the Patriots.
2001: T Matt Light, New England
One of the longest-tenured members of the New England dynasty at the turn of the century was Light, who became one of Tom Brady’s most trusted protectors. He donned the Flying Elvis helmet for 11 seasons, reaching three Pro Bowls and winning three Super Bowls. Light had previously provided protection for another future Hall of Fame quarterback, Drew Brees, when the two shared time at Purdue.
2013: RB Le’Veon Bell, Pittsburgh
The current Jets running back heard his name called during the darkest of times for rushers; despite going 48th overall, Bell was actually the second running back selected (Giovanni Bernard went to Cincinnati 11 picks prior). His ugly divorce with the Steelers notwithstanding, he made it a ridiculously worthwhile investment. In just five seasons, Bell placed himself among the ranks of Franco Harris and Jerome Bettis with 7,996 yards from scrimmage to go with 88 total touchdowns. He was able to play that into a four-year, $52.5 million deal with the Jets last offseason.
The 2020 NFL Draft is only one day away. The New York Giants hold the fourth overall pick this year. This will be their third year in a row picking inside the top-ten. Last year, pretty much everyone was in agreement that the Giants needed to draft a quarterback in the first round. The question was which one? Ultimately, the Gmen shocked the world and selected Daniel Jones sixth overall- a selection that was widely criticized at the time but now appears to have been the right choice.
A similar debate surrounds the Giants once again this year. Should they draft an offensive tackle or a defensive playmaker? But if circumstances were just slightly different there would be no debate at all. Had the Giants lost their second regular-season matchup with the Redskins this year, they would be picking second overall and everyone would be in agreement that Chase Young should be the selection.
Chase Young is the dream selection for the Giants. They desperately need a playmaker on defense and even more desperately need an impact pass-rusher. Young would fill both of those roles. Having the fourth overall pick, rather than the second overall pick, takes the Giants out of the Race to Chase. Or does it?
Will The Redskins Pass On Chase Young?
Nearly every mock draft without trades that you read will feature Chase Young going second overall to the Washington Redskins. He is the best player available outside of the quarterback position and would work wonders for Washington’s defense. But recent trade rumors seem to indicate that Young to the Redskins might not be a done deal.
According to reports, the Redskins are fielding inquiries from teams looking to trade up to the second overall pick. One report suggests that a team has “laid out a complete deal” for number two overall. If the Redskins were to accept one of these trade offers, what would happen with Chase Young?
Why Chase Young Could Get Past The Lions
The Detroit Lions hold the third overall pick in the 2020 NFL Draft. They are expected to invest it on a top-defensive talent like Derrick Brown or Jeffrey Okudah. But what if Chase Young is on the board? There is a good chance he would be the pick. But not if someone else is picking third overall.
It is a known fact that the Lions are looking to trade down from third overall. They have been in talks with the Dolphins and other teams. The Dolphins are reportedly interested in trading up for an offensive tackle, but they could be secretly targeting a quarterback.
How Chase Young Falls To Fourth Overall:
Joe Burrow will be the first overall pick in the 2020 NFL Draft to the Cincinnati Bengals. But there are no locks after that. There are, however, two other quarterbacks that are locks for the first-round and, at one point or another, were locks to be top-five picks. Justin Herbert and Tua Tagovailoa have both been mocked as high as second overall and as low as outside the top-ten. But, as we all know, competition can create price inflation.
If a team does in fact trade up to the second-overall pick and draft a quarterback, the same could happen to the third overall pick. Quarterbacks could be selected first, second, and third overall, leaving Chase Young to fall to the Giants’ fourth overall selection. This is the scenario that all Giants fans will be hoping and praying for.
As draft day approaches, ESM looks back on the best players chosen in the New York Jets’ current draft slots.
The New York Jets currently own eight draft picks in the 2020 NFL Draft, which begins on Thursday night in a virtual setting (8:00 p.m. ET, ESPN/ABC/NFL Network).
To commemorate the path to the draft, ESM looks back on the greatest picks chosen in their respective positions. We continue with 68th pick, one acquired from the Leonard Williams proceedings…
1985: LB Jack Del Rio, New Orleans
After a three-year absence, the two-time Del Rio is back in the NFL as the defensive coordinator of the Washington Redskins. He got his start as a player as a third-round pick of the Saints. Del Rio had a roller-coaster career as a play, including a bizarre incident where he assaulted former Chiefs receiver and scout Otis Taylor during the 1987 players’ strike. He had mistaken Taylor for a replacement player in a matter that was settled out of court. Del Rio would later reach the Pro Bowl as a member of the Minnesota Vikings.
1988: QB/P Tom Tupa, Phoenix
Tupa entered the league as a quarterback, but instead went on to become one of its most reliable punters. He would make history as a 1994 Cleveland Brown by converting the first two-point conversion in NFL history on a botched extra point. In 1999, Tupa earned a special place in Jets lore. During their Week 1 tilt against New England, Tupa, designated an emergency quarterback, stepped in when Vinny Testaverde went down with an injury. In his first pass since 1999, Tupa found Keyshawn Johnson for a 25-yard touchdown. He’d later hook up with Fred Baxter for a seven-yard score in the second half to cap off one of the best backup quarterback performances in Jets history. That season ended with Tupa earned All-Pro honors…as a punter.
1991: WR Jake Reed, Minnesota
The pick used to select Reed was part of Minnesota’s haul from the historically massive Hershel Walker trade. His career got off to a slow start, but he would go on to post four consecutive seasons of earning at least 1,000 yards. Cris Carter duplicated the feat, and the pair became the NFL’s first teammates to amass that tally over four straight years. Locals around these parts perhaps best know Reed for the touchdown that played a part in the Vikings’ come-from-behind victory in the 1997 NFC wild card playoffs.
1993: G Mike Compton, Detroit
The versatile Compton played all over the offensive line and even served as the Lions’ long snapper for field goals. Years of blocking for Barry Sanders on mediocre teams finally paid off when he joined the New England Patriots in 2001. He would play on the starting offensive line for the Patriots’ original Super Bowl squad. Compton currently serves as the offensive line coach at Virginia-Wise at the Division II level.
2003: LB Lance Briggs, Chicago
The Jets are looking for some defensive depth in this draft. They would certainly be satisfied if they could someone with half of the caliber of Briggs. Not only did he develop a reputation as a hard-hitting, fundamentally sound linebacker, but he was durable to the tune of missing only four games over his first ten seasons. Briggs currently ranks second in the Bears’ lengthy history in defensive touchdowns and is also third in pass defenses (84). He also notably led both sides in tackles in Chicago’s Super Bowl visit in 2007.
As draft day approaches, ESM continues to look back on the best players chosen in the New York Jets’ current draft slots.
The New York Jets currently own eight draft picks in the 2020 NFL Draft, which begins on Thursday night in a virtual setting (8:00 p.m. ET, ESPN/ABC/NFL Network).
To commemorate the path to the draft, ESM counts down the greatest picks chosen in the Jets’ respective positions. We’re into the day two portion, as we look back at the best picks taken at No. 79, the latter of their third-round choices.
1958: DB Johnny Sample, Baltimore
Ironically, one of the contributors to the AFL’s ultimate triumph began his professional career as an NFL draft pick. Sample would play his final three seasons of his career with the Jets of the AFL, earning 17 interceptions in that span. His swan song helped change the face of pro football, partaking in a shutdown effort of his former employers’ offense. The Jets triumphed 16-7 over the Colts in Super Bowl III.
1966: RB Walt Garrison, Dallas
Garrison’s toughness made him a legend in Cowboys lore. Notably, he played the 1971 NFC title game with a broken collarbone and wound up with the de facto game-winning score in the Dallas’ 17-10 win over the 49ers to go to their first Super Bowl. The Cowboys fell short against Baltimore, but Garrison would later lead the next season’s team in receptions en route to the team’s first championship.
1971: DE Lyle Alzado, Denver
A Brooklyn native, Alzado first made a name for himself at Lawrence High School on Long Island. Despite playing in NAIA obscurity at (now-defunct) Yankton College, Alzado drew a fourth-round invite from the Broncos. He would go on to become one of the most fearsome defensive presciences in the league, known for a quick temper and furious style of play. Three All-Pro teams awaited him and he also won the 1977 AFC Player of the Year from UPI. After his 1985 retirement, Alzado developed an acting career, and later became one of the first athletes to publicly address his steroid use. Tragically, Alzado passed away in 1992 after a battle with a brain tumor.
1976: WR Henry Marshall, Kansas City
Bad teams and offensive philosophies prevented Marshall from becoming a major name outside of Kansas City, but he did make an impression on the Chiefs’ history books. He currently ranks fourth in the team ledger in both receptions (416) and yardage (6,545), earned over a dozen-year career played entirely at Arrowhead.
1977: RB Wendell Tyler, LA Rams
This Shreveport native was California dreaming after a strong career at UCLA. He first partook in six seasons with the Rams (leading the league with a 5.1 average carry in 1979) before hooking up with San Francisco. Sharing reps with Roger Craig, Tyler ran for a career-high 1,262 yards en route to the 49ers’ triumph in Super Bowl XIX.
1979: RB William Andrews, Atlanta
The unfortunate case of Andrews is one of the finest “what might have been” stories in NFL history. Over his first three seasons, he put up 5,132 yards from scrimmage, including a league-leading 2,036 in 1981. The only reason a streak of four-digit rushing yard seasons was stopped at four was because of the strike that shortened the 1982 campaign. He returned to form with a career-best 1,567 a year later. Alas, a devastating knee injury suffered during the 1984 preseason ended one of the more show-stopping short careers in league history. Andrews ranked 24th in all-time rushing yards upon his 1986 retirement.
1993: DT Gilbert Brown, Minnesota
Brown failed to make the Vikings’ roster out of training camp, but he left an impression on one of their biggest rivals. Immediately picked up by the Packers, he became a Green Bay fan favorite thanks to his massive size but reliable quickness, as well as a celebratory dance known as “The Gravedigger”. In the illustrious history of the Packers, only Brett Favre, Mason Crosby, and Aaron Rogers have partaken in more playoff games than Brown.
2001: T Kareem McKenzie, NY Jets
The Trenton native McKenzie returned to being a New Jersey football staple after his four years at Penn State were up. He would pave the way for running backs like Curtis Martin and Tiki Barber to make history, as each set franchise records during McKenzie’s tenures with both the Jets (2001-04) and Giants (2005-11). McKenzie would also earn a pair of rings with the Giants, contributing to both wins over New England.
2005: G Evan Mathis, Carolina
Football is literally in Mathis’ blood, as his uncle was former five-time Pro Bowler and fellow Alabama alum Bob Baumhower. After his original years with the Panthers and later Cincinnati, Mathis was named Pro Football Focus’ top offensive guard in three consecutive seasons (2011-13) while donning the colors of the Philadelphia Eagles. He would later help the Denver Broncos win Super Bowl 50 over his former southern comrades.
