FMIA: ‘The Jets Stole The Draft’ And More Resonating Conclusions After Seven Rounds Of Sensible Selections

In the wake of the NFL’s 87th player selection meeting, catching up on the stories that resonate a week later …

“We all wear the scars,” Rich Eisen said, speaking for New York Jets fans across the universe. “The Buttfumble scar, the fake-spike scar, and the NFL Draft scar. Or scars.”

1980: Lam Jones drafted ahead of Anthony Munoz1983: Ken O’Brien over Dan Marino1988: Dave Cadigan over Michael Irvin1995: Kyle Brady over Warren Sapp2002: Bryan Thomas over Ed Reed2003: DeWayne Robertson 12 picks ahead of Troy Polamalu2012: Quinton Coples over Chandler Jones2018: Sam Darnold over Josh Allen

“The greatest statistic in NFL history concerns the Jets draft,” Mike Greenberg said. “They picked Ken O’Brien over Dan Marino, Al Toon over Jerry Rice, Blair Thomas over Emmitt Smith—and when those guys retired, Marino, Emmitt and Rice were the most productive quarterback, running back and receiver of all time!”

I called the two biggest Jets fans in mediaville to ask about what the Joe Douglas New York Jets just did, drafting four of their top 19 players (per Douglas) and exiting the draft as the consensus biggest winners. Drafting cornerback Sauce Gardner, receiver Garrett Wilson, edge-rusher Jermaine Johnson at 4, 10 and 26 in the first round and snagging running back Breece Hall four picks into the second round sent their fans into orbit, which is a strange place for them to be in the days after the draft. Usually, Jets fans are hoarse from booing picks.

“The Jets stole the draft,” said Greenberg, the ESPN host of it. “An embarrassment of riches.”

Best Jets draft ever? I asked Eisen.

“Not a very high bar,” he said. “But yeah!”

I’m not a fan of grading drafts, as you know. For perspective, three years ago, the fourth, 10th and 26th