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New York Jets: NFL Draft Look Back: 2012

By Alan Schechter

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May 8, 2014; New York, NY, USA; A general view of a helmet and NFL shield logo before the start of the 2014 NFL Draft at Radio City Music Hall. Mandatory Credit: Adam Hunger-USA TODAY Sports

As we get ready for the NFL draft, sometimes it is interesting to look back.

When a draft class is chosen, we do a lot of analysis about that group of players. We all give a grade to those players based on how they performed in college, and how we believe they will fit in with our chosen team. We grade the draft class, even though they haven’t performed on the NFL level as of yet.

But, as we all know, we don’t truly know the value of a particular draft class until they show their talents on the field. It can take a minimum of three years to get a true feel for how good a group of draftees really is. So, I decided to look back at a three-year old draft class, and see how they have done.

We are looking at Mike Tannenbaum’s final draft class, the class of 2012. We will review the prominent names only, summarizing the players that never made the team on the back-end of the post.

Let’s get to it.

Next: Quinton Coples

Nov 24, 2014; Detroit, MI, USA; New York Jets outside linebacker

Quinton Coples

(98) against the Buffalo Bills at Ford Field. Mandatory Credit: Andrew Weber-USA TODAY Sports

We start up front. Quinton Coples was chosen with the 16th overall pick in the draft, out of North Carolina. He was drafted to be a dominant edge pass rusher, and Coples has been good. He has fought through injury and improved. His rookie year, he posted 5.5 sacks. In 2013 he posted 4.5 sacks, followed by 6.5 last season.

Since entering the league is 2012, Coples has progressed. Karl Dunbar loved working with Coples, and told me he would gladly take him in Buffalo if the Jets didn’t want him anymore. Coples seems ready to have a breakout year in 2015, and that will mean big things for the Jets defense.

His draft grade comes down only because he has been streaky, and not become the dominant edge rusher yet.

DRAFT GRADE: B+

Next: Stephen Hill

Aug 22, 2014; East Rutherford, NJ, USA; New York Jets wide receiver

Stephen Hill

(84) on the bench against the New York Giants during the second half at MetLife Stadium. The Giants defeated the Jets 35-24. Mandatory Credit: Adam Hunger-USA TODAY Sports

From a guy we love, to a guy Jets fans love to hate. Stephen Hill was drafted in the second round of the draft, with the 43rd pick overall. The pick was questioned because of his lack of opportunities in the Georgia Tech offense, and the questions were valid. Hill caught two touchdown passes in his Jets 2012 debut, but it was all downhill from there.

Hill caught only two more touchdowns over the balance of two seasons, and never caught more than 24 passes in either season. Not good for a guy chosen in the second round, ahead of the highly productive Alshon Jeffery. Stephen Hill became known more for his stone hands than for blazing speed. He is off the team, and with good reason.

DRAFT GRADE: F

Next: Demario Davis

Dec 28, 2014; Miami Gardens, FL, USA; New York Jets inside linebacker

Demario Davis

(56) in the first quarter at Sun Life Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Brad Barr-USA TODAY Sports

From one of Mike Tannenbaum’s worst draft picks to one of his best. He chose Demario Davis in the third round of the draft to be the heir apparent to one Bart Scott. After taking over the role of started in 2013, Davis quickly acclimated to his role playing alongside David Harris. In his first full year as a starter, Davis posted 107 tackles to go along with one sack.

In 2014, he posted a career high 116 tackles and 3.5 sacks. Each week he improved in his weakest area, pass coverage. The Jets brought back David Harris, but they know they have a strong leader to move into the future with in Demario Davis. He is up there as one of Mike Tannenbaum’s top draft picks of his career with the Jets.

DRAFT GRADE: A

Next: Antonio Allen

Dec 28, 2014; Miami Gardens, FL, USA; New York Jets cornerback

Antonio Allen

(39) takes the field before a game against the Miami Dolphins at Sun Life Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Steve Mitchell-USA TODAY Sports

The one remaining member of the Jets 2012 draft class on the roster is Antonio Allen. Allen was chosen with the 242nd overall pick of the draft in the seventh round. Allen has been a part-time player at strong safety, starting approximately half of his games in the league. His most exciting moment came in 2013, when he posted a pick six against Tom Brady. The arrival of Marcus Gilchrist may severely limit his playing time going forward.

The Brady interception was his only pick of his career, and his best season totaled 63 tackles. Allen has been average, at best.

DRAFT GRADE: C

Next: The Rest

Aug 24, 2013; East Rutherford, NJ, USA; New York Jets safety

Josh Bush

(32) misses an interception against the New York Giants during the third quarter of a preseason game at MetLife Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports

Here are the rest of the players chosen in that draft class, none of whom spent significant time with the Jets:

Obviously, the grade there is an F.

So, the 2012 draft class has one outstanding player, one player good and blossoming, one average, and the rest stunk.  Six out of the eight players chosen were at either a C or below.  So the overall grade for this draft is a C-.

What do you think?

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