clock menu more-arrow no yes mobile

Filed under:

These Are the Players the New York Jets Selected in the 2016 NFL Draft

Kamil Krzaczynski-USA TODAY Sports

The Draft class for the Jets is now complete in 2016. These are the players the team selected.

Round 1, Pick 20: Darron Lee, LB, Ohio State

Way too early thought: This has been a very polarizing pick over the last few days. I am going to go out on a limb and say that I think this will prove to be a very successful selection. I love how Lee fits on this defense. He has a nose for the backfield, sensing where the breakdowns in blocking are and exploding through it. He is also a good cover guy. For once, the Jets have added some athleticism to the linebacker position.

Round 2, Pick 51: Christian Hackenberg, QB, Penn State

Way too early thought: Through the scouting process there had been plenty of points where the Jets expressed interest in Hackenberg. It at least allowed me to brace for the selection. Hackenberg was not put in a great situation at Penn State, but it is difficult to name a recent top Draft prospect who underachieved more in college. At the very least, Hackenberg has so many issues to work out that it would be difficult to envision him seeing the field for the Jets in 2016. He has really struggled against pressure, and his selection ironically took away perhaps the team's last resource to upgrade a shaky offensive line.

Round 3, Pick 83: Jordan Jenkins, EDGE, Georgia

Way too early thought: For the second straight year, Mike Maccagnan added an outside linebacker in the third round. Jenkins doesn't necessarily have a ceiling that is through the roof, but there is a lot to like in his game. He should be very effective at setting the edge. I think he is more athletic than he is given credit for being so I could see him developing into a decent pass rusher. Mike Maccagnan has talked about the need to create a pipeline of young edge rushers, and he delivered here.

Round 4, Pick 118: Juston Burris, CB, NC State

Way too early thought: I probably have less of a feel for this player than any other the Jets picked. I only remember watching a couple of his college games. He wasn't a decorated corner so this feels like Todd Bowles and Mike Maccagnan seeing skills that they like and believing they are capable of developing them. You can understand why. Burris is big and physical, just the attributes a corner needs in Bowles' defensive system. This is the type of pick that tests the aptitude of the coaching and front office. Did they pick a player who has enough talent? Can they mold him?

Round 5, Pick 158: Brandon Shell, OT, South Carolina

Way too early thought: The Jets made a trade that had negative value to get Shell, parting with their 2017 fourth round selection to move back into the fifth round. They must really like Shell a lot to make a deal like that. Presumably he was rated as a day two pick, perhaps a high day two pick. Even if they had him graded as a fourth rounder, they probably would have a fourth round level player next year by holding that pick. You simply cannot expect a fifth round pick to contribute as a rookie, but Shell does have some tools that make you feel like he could play tackle in the NFL.

Round 7, Pick 235: Lachlan Edwards, P, Sam Houston State

Way too early thought: This might be the one pick in the entire Draft that was guaranteed to upgrade a position. That is because the Jets did not have a punter on their roster. Special teams were an Achilles heel all of last season. They were a big reason the Jets missed the Playoffs. Hopefully Edwards can fill a need.

Round 7, Pick 241: Charone Peake, WR, Clemson

Way too early thought: The seventh round is a good spot for a boom or bust prospect like Peake. He has formidable physical tools and has overcome adversity in the form of knee surgeries. Those injuries and other flaws such as shaky hands are a concern.