New York Jets 2017 NFL Draft retrospective

While the New York Jets landed safety help in Jamal Adams and Marcus Maye, the rest of their draft class went bust.

The New York Jets were this close to snapping their playoff drought in 2015 before choking in Week 17 against the Buffalo Bills. They followed that up with an 5-11 mark in 2016.

Going into the 2017 NFL Draft, Gang Green lacked star power on both sides of the ball. Their draft strategy was simple: best player available.

Original grade

FanSided: B

The Jets needed a tone-setter and they got one. They needed a leader and they got one. Todd Bowles loves defense and he got a player who clearly loves tackling and playing on that side of the ball. Jamal Adams is the safest player in the entire draft. As far as his position, he has played everywhere. He can play centerfield, in the box, in the slot and a mixture of them all.

Draft class

Round 1 (No. 6)

Few thought Jamal Adams would be available for the New York Jets with the sixth-overall pick. Yet when the green and white were on the clock, the LSU superstar was still on the board.

Adams was the most complete safety on the board and he’s been a fantastic addition for the Jets. The youngster has become one of the best safeties in football and earned first-team All-Pro honors in 2019, highlighted by his 6.5 sacks (most by a Jets defensive back in a single season in team history).

Adams enters the 2020 offseason with one year remaining on his contract (fifth-year option) and his future appears murky with the club after trade rumors at last year’s deadline. The choices moving forward? Make Adams the highest-paid safety in league history or the trade him away for a haul to accelerate their rebuild.

Round 2 (No. 39)

Maye had some durability concerns coming out of Florida that gave some NFL teams pause on draft day. Those issues hindered some of his early development, but he’s started all 16 games two of his three NFL seasons.

The combination of Adams and Maye on the back end has provided New York with an anchor for its defense. If New York’s new general manager, Joe Douglas, can add some cornerbacks in front of them, the Jets have a shot to field one of the league’s best secondaries.

Round 3 (No. 79)

The Jets decided to improve their substandard receiving core with the selection of ArDarius Stewart. After years of ineptitude, the team was suddenly stock-piled with receivers: Eric Decker, Robby Anderson, Quincy Enunwa, among others.

Stewart (5-foot-11) was a smaller guy who was supposed to bring some toughness. Unfortunately, he flamed out very quickly. Stewart only played in 15 career games (all with the Jets), but got in trouble for PEDs and was eventually released by the team.

Round 4 (No. 141)

Another receiver, and another bust.

Hansen possessed a limited route tree that was exposed at the next level. He lasted 15 career games (all with the Jets) and bounced around the league before disappearing from the NFL.

Round 5 (No. 150)

This selection had Jets fans hopeful. Leggett looked the part of an imposing tight end: 6-foot-6, 255 pounds. He had the production you look for: 112 career catches, 1,598 receiving yards, and 18 touchdowns (all career-best numbers for a tight end in Clemson history).

So why did he last until the fifth-round?

A terrible blocker, lack of passion and his nickname on campus according to people who worked with the football team was “Lazy Leggett.” Jordan played in 15 career games with the Jets hauling in 14 receptions for 114 yards and a touchdown.

Round 5 (No. 181)

Donahue’s lasting image won’t be him on the practice field or in games, it’ll be what he did off the field. He was involved in two separate DWI incidents including one where he was driving the wrong way in the Lincoln Tunnel and crashed into a bus. Donahue is lucky he didn’t take someone’s life that fateful day and was deservingly released shortly after.

Round 6 (No. 188)

In his two years with the team, McGuire was underwhelming. On 180 attempts he recorded 591 yards on a lackluster 3.3 yards per clip. Heading into 2019 he missed final roster cuts and was released. Since then he spent time with the Cleveland Browns on their practice squad and active roster before settling in with the Kansas City Chiefs as a reserve player.

Round 6 (No. 197)

On paper, this was a phenomenal grab. How often do you get the chance to select a lanky cornerback with measurables like 6-foot-3 and 220 pounds?

Unfortunately, Clark’s injury history raised some major red flags. He got hurt late in the season for Michigan (torn ACL) and basically red-shirted his rookie season in the NFL.

The injuries would continue to plague Clark for the next handful of years and was never able to get on the football field.

Round 6 (No. 204)

Jones played in four games during his professional career, only recording stats in one of them. After trying to play for the Green Bay Packers (failed his physical) and the Houston Texans (injury settlement), he called it quits and moved on.

Bottom line

Overall this will be a largely forgettable class besides Jamal Adams and Marcus Maye.

Batting 2-for-9 won’t earn you much praise around league circles especially considering the team passed on several talents that could’ve, would’ve, and probably should’ve helped accelerate the rebuild including but not limited too:

Third round: Chris Godwin, Kareem Hunt, Shaquill Griffin, and Kenny Golladay
Fourth round: George Kittle and Marlon Mack
Fifth round: Desmond King, and Matt Milano
Sixth round: David Moore, and Harrison Butker

While the team hasn’t found any postseason success yet, at least Adams and Maye are building blocks for the team’s future in one fashion or another.