New York Jets: Top Five Draft Busts Since the Year 2000

March 19, 2013; Phoenix, AZ, USA; New York Jets head coach Rex Ryan answers questions from reporters during the annual NFL meetings at the Arizona Biltmore. Mandatory Credit: Casey Sapio-USA TODAY Sports

Over the last few weeks, we have gone all the way back to 1990 to find the best selections the Jets have made in the NFL draft. It can be tough, but we found them, 20 top selections going back to 1990. Now, we are going to go the other way.

When talking about the Jets, and the NFL draft, the word “bust” is used almost as commonly as “NFL”, “selection”, and “April”. We have all been there, we know this to be true. The Jets have had their struggles with the NFL draft through the years. You can go to Youtube and fairly quickly find a composite tape of the worst Jets’ draft picks.

Have you all heard the saying about being doomed to repeat history if you don’t go back and review it. Understanding history is the best way to keep it from happening again. So, with that in mind, we take a look back at the dark side of the Jets’ drafts. We are going to countdown the Jets’ five biggest draft busts since the year 2000.

There are more than five, but I don’t really want to dwell on it for that long.

So, let’s get the countdown started.  Our number 5 selection was a favorite of the guy pictured to the right.  For at least some of their tenure together, former general manager Mike Tannenbaum gave coach Ryan the opportunity to make his own selection.  Rex’s choice?  Our number 5 biggest draft bust since the year 2000:

FB JOHN CONNER

With his great love for the “Ground and Pound”, it is not a total surprise that Rex Ryan used his pick on a fullback in 2010.  Tony Richardson was nearing the end of his career, and Rex wanted a physical player to take his place.

And Conner was physical, no doubt.  The “Terminator” could lay the wood on opponents, that’s for sure.  Remember some of those hits during “Hard Knocks”?  He was terminating people, period.  But, when it came down to the skills needed to be an effective fullback, Conner was lacking some of those.  For example, it was noted in his scouting report that Conner would sometimes be late to his spot as a lead blocker.  Did we ever see that before?  Yes I think so.

He was not a great asset as a pass receiver out of the backfield, had difficulty in pass blocking, and had the above mentioned problems with run blocking, due to inconsistent foot work.  Other than that, great choice coach!  Thanks!

And by the way, who drafts a fullback anyway?  Firmly planting himself on this list, the fifth biggest Jets’ draft bust since the year 2000.  John “the Terminator” Conner.