Tag: Laveranues Coles

Jets must right their receiver wrongs of drafts past

The past 17 receivers the Jets drafted haven’t scored more than 19 touchdowns in their Jets’ career. That needs to change.

The Jets haven’t drafted well over the past two decades, but they’ve been particularly been bad at picking wide receivers. With the presumption that Gang Green will grab at least one pass-catcher with their first four picks in the next week’s draft, whomever they choose needs to be significantly better than the wideouts the Jets have drafted in recent years.

Only one of the 18 receivers the Jets drafted since 2000 has tallied more than 20 touchdowns for New York. Laveranues Coles caught 459 receptions for 5,941 yards and 37 touchdowns in two separate three-year stints with the Jets after he went in the third round of the 2000 draft. No other drafted receiver has produced as well as Coles did for the Jets since. Santana Moss and Jerricho Cotchery were close but only caught 19 and 18 touchdowns, respectively.

The Jets picked wideouts poorly on an amazingly consistent basis. Though the Jets only drafted five of their 18 receivers in the first three rounds, three of those picks were duds: Stephen Hill, Devin Smith and ArDarius Stewart. For reference, players like Alshon Jeffery, T.Y. Hilton, Tyler Lockett, Stefon Diggs and Chris Godwin all went after Hill, Smith and Stewart in their respective drafts.

Of the 18 receivers New York has drafted since 2000, ten didn’t catch a touchdown. Four never even played a down for the team.

Bad drafting forced the Jets to overpay wide receivers in free agency in the past – including Eric Decker, Santonio Holmes and, to a lesser extent, Jamison Crowder. Such spending left other positions woefully without depth throughout the years. But with a competent general manager, solid draft capital and a young quarterback, the Jets finally have a chance to change course this year.

New York hasn’t picked a receiver since 2017 when it took Stewart in the third round and Chad Hansen and the fourth round, but that streak should snap in 2020.

The Jets had pre-draft conversations with Jerry Jeudy, CeeDee Lamb and Denzel Mims and also said heavily linked to Henry Ruggs III. But, with a heavy need at offensive tackle, it’s more likely the Jets will wait to grab a wideout until the second or third rounds in one of the deepest receiver classes in recent memory. Prospects like Laviska Shenault Jr., Michael Pittman, Van Jefferson, Donovan Peoples-Jones and Tyler Johnson all have the makings of solid offensive contributors and could be targets with the Jets’ 48th, 68th and/or 79th picks.

If the Jets use one of their early picks on a receiver, he’ll need to be a playmaker. The Jets’ receiver depth at the moment leaves much to be desired between Jamison Crowder, Breshad Perriman, Quincy Enunwa (if he’s healthy), Josh Doctson, Vyncint Smith and Braxton Berrios. Burning another pick on a receiver who can’t catch, stay on the field or run the right routes will be detrimental to the development of Sam Darnold and the rest of the offense.

Joe Douglas has a chance to turn this trend around for the Jets, but he doesn’t have a great track record with receivers in the draft. He drafted three receivers for the Eagles between 2016-19 when he was their vice president of player personnel, and none of them have panned out so far. The Bears drafted Kevin White seventh overall in 2015 when Douglas was Chicago’s director of college scouting. White never caught a touchdown in only 14 games of action in three seasons.

Douglas and the Jets both need to be better at finding young, talented receiver prospects in this draft. If they don’t, the Jets will continue to wallow in mediocrity at one of the most important offensive positions in the game.

2020 Hindsight: A look back at the Jets’ 2000 NFL Draft 2 decades later

Jets Wire takes a stroll down memory lane to revisit New York’s 2000 NFL draft class 20 years later.

The 2000 NFL draft could very well be one of the best in Jets franchise history.

Loaded with four first-round picks, two of which he acquired by trading star wide receiver Keyshawn Johnson to the Buccaneers, general manager Bill Parcells approached the draft with more than enough capital to improve upon an 8-8 record and fourth-place finish in the AFC East in 1999.

With players like running back Curtis Martin, wide receivers Wayne Chrebet and Dedric Ward, linebackers Marvin Jones and Mo Lewis and safety Victor Green already in the mix, the Jets were littered with talent entering 2000. All Parcells had to do was sure up a few positions of need and inject some youth into New York’s roster.

Well aware that the Jets needed to address their defensive line and pass rush, Parcells selected University of Tennessee defensive end Shaun Ellis at No. 12 and used the 13th pick acquired from Tampa Bay on South Carolina outside linebacker John Abraham. Parcells spent New York’s other two first-round picks on offense, landing quarterback of the future Chad Pennington at No. 18 and tight end Anthony Bect at No. 27, the other pick the Buccaneers sent to the Jets in exchange for Johnson.

Parcells’ work did not end in the first round, though. He selected wide receiver Laveranues Coles in the third round to give the Jets an immediate weapon at wide receiver and one Pennington could work with once he took over the starting job.

As is the case with any NFL draft class, it takes a while to determine whether the group is successful or not. Some players take time to develop, while others make an instant impact. Ellis, Abraham, Coles and Becht all assumed important roles in 2000. Ellis registered 8.5 sacks, while Abraham chipped in 4.5. Coles caught 22 passes for 370 yards and a touchdown working as New York’s No. 3 receiver, while Becht became the starting tight end and caught 16 passes for 144 yards and a touchdown in his rookie year.

Pennington spent his first year with the Jets sitting behind starting quarterback Vinny Testaverde. He only appeared in one game, going 2-5 for 40 yards and a touchdown. Although he spent most of 2000 on the bench, the lessons Pennington learned watching and working with Testaverde proved key to his success once he ascended to the starting role.

The Jets did not make the playoffs in 2000, going 9-7 and finishing third in the AFC East in Al Groh’s lone season as head coach. However, New York’s 2000 draft class laid the foundation for the future. Ellis and Abraham developed into a dominant pass-rushing duo, one the Jets have not had since. Coles finished his career with nearly 700 receptions and had two stints with the Jets. Becht proved to be a reliable tight end option until he departed in 2004. While Pennington didn’t turn out to be as good as the 199th pick, Tom Brady, he eventually turned into a very good starting quarterback and one of the most accurate passers of all-time. Late-round picks Windrell Hayes, Tony Scott and Richard Seals did not pan out with the Jets, but hitting on five out of eight picks in any draft class is a job well done.

Twenty years later, first-year Jets general manager Joe Douglas has his own chance to lay the foundation for the future. He might not have as much draft capital as Parcells did, but he has enough to fill positions of need and give New York a much-needed influx of talent.

If all goes well, the Jets could be back on their way to the postseason sooner rather than later.