Sam Darnold, who was the Jets’ No. 1 pick in 2018, is now the longest-tenured first-rounder on New York’s roster. Seriously.
When the Jets shipped Jamal Adams to Seattle, they joined the Las Vegas Raiders as the only two teams that don’t have a single one of their first-round picks from 2011-17 on their rosters, according to ESPN’s Stats & Information. The Jets made eight selections in the first round over that span, while the Raiders have made just five.
While the Jets were able to net a massive haul for Adams, the deal highlighted the organization’s draft failures. New York’s drafting history, specifically in the first round, is a large reason why the team hasn’t played into late January since 2010, which was three head coaches and four general managers ago.
The Jets have been the worst team in the NFL when it comes to drafting over the past 10 years, according to a study done on drafting efficiency from 2010 to 2019 by Football Outsiders. That’s why it comes as no surprise that the team’s first-round picks from 2011-17 are no longer part of the franchise’s nucleus. With the recent departure of Adams, just 11 of New York’s 72 draft picks since 2010 remain on the active roster.
Four of those first-round selections (Muhammad Wilkerson, Quinton Coples, Calvin Pryor and Dee Milliner) are no longer in the league. Leonard Williams and Darron Lee never lived up to their draft slot, while Adams and Sheldon Richardson fractured their relationships with the organization.
The team’s consistent drafting struggles have put more of an emphasis on the team hitting on its first-round picks. That’s certainly a reason why the Jets’ power structure refused to take no as an answer from Joe Douglas. He was brought on board to take the stench out of the Jets war room and his drafting resume speaks for itself.
Whether it’s fair or not, the pressure is now on Darnold to shift the tide. He is now the face of the franchise and although he’s shown flashes of looking the part, he still has plenty to prove heading into year three.