New York Jets: Top 10 Draft Picks Since the Year 2000

Feb 21, 2013; Indianapolis, IN, USA; New York Jets general manager John Idzik speaks at a press conference during the 2013 NFL Combine at Lucas Oil Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Brian Spurlock-USA TODAY Sports

John Idzik’s first time in the major spotlight is just over one month away. In that time, John and his team will be getting it done for the bright lights of NYC and Jets fans everywhere, with his first draft as a head of the New York Jets. What types of picks will he make? Will he have a good feel for directing a room with all football people in it?

How about John Idzik and the coach? Will Rex keep quiet enough to let John Idzik say what he has to say? If they are not on the same page, will their egos allow them to work together efficiently and productively? Which voice will have it’s say? These questions, and more, will be answered in the weeks leading up to, and at the draft.

As those questions are preparing to be answered, we instead are going to take a look back. The Jets, as we all know, have a shady history, at best when it comes to choosing players. We can never feel exquisitely good because whenever we have a year or two of excellent drafting, the Jets would turn around and draft a “Lam” Jones, or a Vernon Gholston. When there are video compilations created about your team’s draft choices, things are not very good.

But there have been some good choices too, whom we have harvested the benefits of, ten fold. Today, we are going to begin to take a look back at those players, by running a new series. We are going to look at the top 10 draft picks by the Jets, dating back to the year 2000 at the earliest. Which draft picks since the year 2000 have made the greatest impact on the Jets in their time with the team? With that, let’s get to it, and take a look at # 10……….

LB DAVID HARRIS

In 2007, the Jets took another guy on the first round that we will talk about at the other end of this countdown, but with their second round draft pick, they took a young linebacker from the University of Michigan named David Harris, who made an impact on this team every year since his arrival. I know that currently, he is associated with a previous era of slow Jets linebackers that they need to move on for. But, when you look at his body of work over all these years, you see the impact David has had. Turn the page for more.

Take a look at David Harris’ stats:

David Harris essentially took over for Jonathan Vilma when he arrived.  Vilma, according to Mangini, didn’t fit into his scheme, and Harris did, so the move was made.  And it paid off.

Dec 30, 2012; Orchard Park, NY, USA; New York Jets inside linebacker David Harris (52) during the game against the Buffalo Bills at Ralph Wilson Stadium. Bills beat the Jets 28-9. Mandatory Credit: Kevin Hoffman-USA TODAY Sports

Look at those tackle stats through the years. Averaging just a little over 106 tackles is the picture of consistency.   Those six years have given us a wide variety of results, from missing the playoffs all the way to title games.  Through it all, David Harris has been the guy the Jets can always count on to be there and perform well.

Take a look at his durability over the years as well.  He has missed 5 games in 6 years.  You can’t get a heck of a lot better than that.  What’s more, there have been 12 games in his career that he hasn’t started.  That is the definition of a mainstay.

Harris has not been short of big plays either, with 6 forced fumbles, and 6 interceptions in his career.

And here is one interception that we will all remember David for:

Who can forget that one from two years ago? I know that my blood pressure got going again just watching that on tape. What a moment that was, watching the big guy take a floater away from Mr. Brady and run past him.

A definite choice for our top 10.