The Full New York Jets 2017 NFL Draft Class

The 2017 NFL Draft is now in the book for the New York Jets. It was full of surprises and plenty of wheeling and dealing (mostly down). We now know the full Draft class for the Jets in the year 2017 barring an unlikely trade back into the Draft.

The Jets started the Draft with seven picks. They ended it with nine. They also added an extra fifth rounder in 2018 due to a trade with the Cowboys.

Here are the players the Jets picked.

First Round; 6th pick; 6th overall: Jamal Adams, S, LSU

The Draft began with a shocker as Jamal Adams fell to the Jets with the sixth pick, similar to the way Leonard Williams fell to the Jets with the sixth pick two years ago. Just as in 2015, the Jets didn’t overthink it. They just thanked their good fortune and walked away with one of the best talents in the entire Draft. The Jets reportedly told Adams he was wasting his time meeting with them once in person during the process because there was no way he would last until the sixth pick. I’m sure the Jets were happy to be wrong.

Second Round; 7th pick; 39th overall: Marcus Maye, S, Florida

The second pick was a second surprise. The Jets decided to double dip early in a talented safety class to take Maye. Maye doesn’t quite have the talent of Adams, but he is a guy who projects as a versatile piece at the back of the defense, capable of doing a little bit of everything. The Jets run a scheme that doesn’t like to pigeon hole safeties. They want guys who can do a lot of things well. A year after constant breakdowns at the back of the defense led to big play after big play, the Jets are hoping to create one of the best safety tandems in the league going forward.

Third Round; 15th pick; 79th overall: ArDarius Stewart, WR, Alabama

Alabama did not have a very prolific passing offense last year, but it wasn’t due to a lack of quality pass catchers. Stewart could be a weapon on manufactured touches early in his career in addition to contributing in the return game. He has the tools of a quality West Coast offense receiver if he can refine his game a bit.

Fourth Round; 35th pick; 141st overall; Chad Hansen, WR, California

Plenty of talent evaluators feel like this was a tremendous value pick for the Jets. Dane Brugler went far enough to say Hansen was the best player still available entering the third day of the Draft. He only has one year of significant playing time against top competition under his belt. That and a relatively limited route tree in his college offense likely dropped him to this point. Like Stewart, he has a lot of attributes that fit a West Coast passing attack, though.

Fifth Round; 6th pick; 150th overall; Jordan Leggett, TE, Clemson

So New York, New York, becomes tight end, tight end.

Nobody questions whether Leggett has the tools to be a quality tight end. He’s got the size you want at 6’5” and around 260 pounds. He’s also a good athlete, turning in some of the top shuttle times at the Combine. He just didn’t always play up to those measurables, and some have questioned his effort at times. In an earlier round, this might be a less than desirable pick. In the fifth round, it’s easier to talk yourself into this roll of the dice.

Fifth Round; 38th pick; 181st overall; Dylan Donahue, EDGE (?), West Georgia

The Jets went the small school route in the fifth round grabbing Donahue. He was a very productive Division II player. The normal questions about whether he can handle the big jump in talent of competition applies. A position change is always a possibility when we have a player making this type of jump. I’m guessing the Jets will view him as an edge guy since he was a prolific sack guy in college and fits the mold of an outside linebacker in the scheme physically.

Sixth Round; 4th pick; 188th overall; Elijah McGuire, RB, Louisiana-Lafayette

It is easier to hit on some positions than others in the late rounds. Running backs seem to have a relatively higher hit rate than other spots later on. McGuire has the physical tools to potentially be a decent back. He also has some receiving skills. It’s a sixth round pick. Your guess is as good as mine.

Sixth Round; 13th pick; 197th overall; Jeremy Clark, CB, Michigan

In the sixth round, the Jets finally dipped their toes into the deep cornerback class by grabbing Clark. Clark is a huge 6’3” 220 pound cornerback. After starting his college career at safety, he moved to corner later on. He is recovering from a torn ACL, which might have dropped his stock a bit. The Jets will try to develop him into a quality press cornerback.

Sixth Round; 20th pick; 204th overall; Derrick Jones, CB, Mississippi

With their last pick, the Jets grabbed another big developmental cornerback. Jones is 6’2” and also played wide receiver in college. This is another guy the Jets are drafting based on tools and hoping to coach up.