The Jets’ 2016 draft class is no more.
With Jordan Jenkins signing a two-year deal with the Texans, not a single player from Mike Maccagnan’s second draft class remains on New York’s roster. Jenkins was Gang Green’s longest-tenured player, but that title now belongs to Marcus Maye.
Maccagnan’s second draft class is a big reason why he’s New York’s former general manager. His second draft at the helm was supposed to be a pivotal part of the Jets roster structure. Instead, only three players, including Jenkins, remain on NFL teams.
Jenkins joins Darron Lee, Christian Hackenberg, Juston Burris, Brandon Shell, Lachlan Edwards and Charone Peake as 2016 draft picks who have since moved on from New York. The Jets’ 2015 and 2016 draft classes no longer have a footprint on New York’s roster, while Maye is the lone representative from the 2017 class.
Jenkins’s tenure in New York was prolonged by an extra season. He looked as if he could be a free agent departure last offseason, but his market never materialized and he returned on a team-friendly deal.
Gang Green’s switch to a 4-3 defense spelled the end of the veteran outside linebacker’s career with the Jets. The University of Georgia product better fits a 3-4 defensive front and figures to play well in Lovie Smith’s defense in Houston.