The 20 best draft picks in NY Jets franchise history

The NY Jets have had somewhat of a tumultuous draft history as a franchise. For every pick that's developed into a long-term cornerstone, the Jets have seemingly had multiple turn out to be absolute duds.

Those duds have felt more commonplace in recent memory, although there are plenty to look back on over the years as well.

We're talking about players like Kyle Brady, Vernon Gholston, Blair Thomas, and Dee Milliner — those who the Jets once had high hopes for, only for their legacies to forever be associated with one word: bust.

Yes, the Jets have had their fair share of draft busts throughout their 60-plus years of existence. They likely have more infamous draft busts than your average NFL organization.

However, it hasn't all been doom and gloom for the Jets. While many seem to focus on the Jets' various draft-day misses, they've had quite a few hits over the years as well.

These hits range from first-round picks who more than lived up to their potential to late-round additions who exceeded any and all expectations. Those are the players we're going to highlight in this list.

Now, not every Jets legend was actually drafted by the team. The likes of Don Maynard, Winston Hill, Curtis Martin, Kevin Mawae, Wayne Chrebet, and Larry Grantham all had storied careers with the organization, but none of them were actually drafted by New York.

A few honorable mentions that just missed out on the list before we start: Greg Buttle, Matt Snell, Marty Lyons, Dave Herman, Ken O'Brien, Jim Sweeney, Muhammad Wilkerson, and Leon Washington.

20. Shaun Ellis, DE, NY Jets (12th overall - 2000)

Shaun Ellis was a member of the Jets' historic 2000 NFL Draft class that featured an NFL-record four first-round picks — a mark that still hasn't been matched by any other team to this point.

And as a brief spoiler, Ellis isn't the only member of that draft class on this list. The 12th overall pick in 2000, Ellis spent over a decade in green and white, making the playoffs under three different head coaches (Herman Edwards, Eric Mangini, and Rex Ryan).

Ellis finished his Jets career with a whopping 72.5 sacks, a figure that ranked third all-time in franchise history. He was a cornerstone of the Jets' defense for 11 years and certainly proved to be worth that 12th overall pick.

His longevity, production, and on/off-field leadership earn him a rightful spot on this list.

19. Marvin Powell, OT, NY Jets (4th overall - 1977)

It's easy to forget just how good Marvin Powell was in his prime given that the Jets' organization was mostly treading water during his time with the team. He's someone who should be celebrated more than he currently is.

The fourth overall pick in the 1977 NFL Draft, Powell remains tied for the highest-drafted offensive lineman in franchise history. Powell doesn't have the longevity that others on this list do having only played nine years with the Jets, but his peak was arguably the best of any Jets tackle ever.

The former USC star made five consecutive Pro Bowl appearances from 1979 to 1983 and was twice named first-team All-Pro. He's a member of the Jets' All-Time Four-Decade team and someone who probably belongs in the team's Ring of Honor.

The Jets' longtime right tackle absolutely deserves a spot on this list.

18. Al Toon, WR, NY Jets (10th overall - 1985)

Al Toon is not Jerry Rice. And for some, that's enough to remove him from contention on this list entirely. Toon was drafted by the Jets with the 10th overall pick in the 1985 NFL Draft, six spots before the San Francisco 49ers selected the greatest wide receiver of all time.

Toon will forever be compared to Rice, but that shouldn't take away from how talented of a player he was in his own right. In fact, if not for concussion issues, Toon may very well have joined Rice in the Hall of Fame one day.

The Wisconsin product only played eight seasons in the NFL, but he made a significant impact during that time. Toon was named to three Pro Bowls, named first-team All-Pro in 1986, and was eventually inducted into the Jets' Ring of Honor.

Toon's story will always be one of "what could've been." But it's important to also recognize what he was able to accomplish before he was forced to retire prior to his 30th birthday.

He isn't Jerry Rice, but he's still Al Toon. That's more than enough.

17. Dan Alexander, OG, NY Jets (200th overall - 1977)

Most Jets fans who didn't grow up watching the team in the '80s might not be too familiar with Dan Alexander, but he was a mainstay of the Jets' offensive line for well over a decade.

Drafted all the way in the eighth round, 200th overall, back in 1977, Alexander was originally supposed to compete at defensive tackle before he found himself switching positions.

He took over the starting right guard job as a rookie, and wouldn't miss a game for nearly a decade. Alexander started 12 years with the Jets and ranks sixth all-time in games played with the franchise.

Alexander earns a spot on this list not just due to his longevity, but because of where he was drafted. From an eight-round pick to a decade-plus starter, Alexander deserves to be considered one of the best Jets draft picks of all time.

16. David Harris, LB, NY Jets (47th overall - 2007)

One of the most recent draft picks on this list, David Harris was selected with the 47th overall pick in the 2007 NFL Draft. It didn't take long for him to emerge as an impact player on defense.

Harris started nearly 150 games in a Jets uniform and was long considered to be one of the team leaders on and off the field. Perpetually underrated, Harris never earned any major accolades during his time in the league.

Nonetheless, he still ranks fourth all-time in tackles in Jets history as well as 14th in sacks despite playing as an off-ball linebacker.

The 'Hitman' is going to go down as one of the most underappreciated players of his generation, but as just a second-round pick, he more than earned his spot on this list.

15. Joe Fields, C, NY Jets (349th overall - 1975)

Another longtime offensive line stalwart, Joe Fields might be the greatest late-round steal in Jets history — or at least one of them. Drafted out of Division III Widener University in 1975, Fields didn't expect to hear his name called in any of the then-17 rounds of the NFL Draft.

The Jets surprised him and selected him with the 349th overall pick in the 14th round of the draft. Still, he faced quite the uphill battle.

After contributing on special teams as a rookie, Fields took over the starting center job and would go on to start over 150 games with the team primarily at center.

He was named to two Pro Bowls and earned one first-team All-Pro selection, helping lead the Jets to a conference championship game in 1982. Given where he was originally selected, Fields' inclusion here is a no-brainer.

14. John Abraham, DE, NY Jets (13th overall - 2000)

We're back to the Jets' famed 2000 NFL Draft class with the last truly great edge rusher the team has had in John Abraham.

Drafted with the 13th overall pick, one spot behind Shaun Ellis, Abraham quickly developed into one of the Jets' best players making three Pro Bowls and earning one first-team All-Pro honor in just five seasons with the team.

Unfortunately, he'd rank higher on this list if not for the fact that he was traded to the Atlanta Falcons in 2006. Once again, we're left wondering what could've been had Abraham stayed with the Jets.

Still, given the caliber of player he turned into not only with the Jets but with the Falcons, he deserves a spot on this list.

13. D'Brickashaw Ferguson, OT, NY Jets (4th overall - 2006)

The 2006 NFL Draft saw the Jets land two franchise cornerstone offensive linemen in the first round — the first of which was D'Brickashaw Ferguson.

Ferguson was selected with the fourth overall pick in the 2006 NFL Draft, the highest-drafted Jets offensive lineman since Marvin Powell. And he more than lived up to the hype.

The New York native was the epitome of consistency, longevity, and excellency. Ferguson started 160 consecutive games and missed just one snap in his entire 10-year career (not even due to injury).

As a key member of the Jets' vaunted offensive line during their back-to-back AFC Championship Game appearances in 2009 and 2010, Ferguson lived up to his pre-draft expectations and then some.

12. Nick Mangold, C, NY Jets (29th overall - 2006)

We transition now to the other offensive lineman the Jets drafted in the first round back in 2006. Nick Mangold was just as much a cornerstone of that Jets' offensive line as well.

Drafted 29th overall in 2006, Mangold took over the starting center job as a rookie and would go on to start 164 games with the organization before retiring following the 2016 season.

Mangold helped continue the Jets' tradition of stellar center play following in the footsteps of the likes of Kevin Mawae and Jim Sweeney. Seven Pro Bowl appearances and two first-team All-Pro selections make him a borderline Hall of Famer.

He earns a spot ahead of Ferguson given his sheer dominance at his position on top of the fact that he was selected 25 picks after his longtime teammate.

11. Emerson Boozer, RB, NY Jets (46th overall - 1966)

Emerson Boozer doesn't have the flashy numbers to be considered one of the best running backs of his generation. The future College Football Hall of Famer split carries with the likes of Matt Snell and John Riggins throughout his career and never finished with more than 850 yards in a season.

Yet, nearly 50 years after his retirement in 1975, Boozer still ranks third all-time on the Jets' rushing list behind just Curtis Martin and Freeman McNeil (more on him later).

Boozer did it all for the Jets. He was an outstanding blocker, a capable pass-catcher, and someone who had a nose for the end zone. He was a staple of those early Jets teams a key part of their Super Bowl III winning roster.

Boozer belongs on this list not just for his contributions to the team, but because he was drafted all the way in the sixth round of the 1966 AFL Draft. The Jets found a diamond in the rough who developed into a franchise icon.

10. Kyle Clifton, LB, NY Jets (64th overall - 1984)

Kye Clifton has to be one of the more underappreciated Jets in history, and likely one of the more underappreciated linebackers of his era. A tackling machine, Clifton racked up a whopping 1,484 tackles during his time with the Jets.

That figure still ranks first all-time in Jets history and was second among all NFL players at the time of his retirement in 1996. It's still good for top-10 ahead of legends like Bobby Wagner, Brian Urlacher, and Sam Mills.

A third-round pick in the 1984 NFL Draft, Clifton joined a Jets team that was just two years removed from Walt Michaels and had recently moved on from Richard Todd.

By the time of his retirement, the Jets were a year away from Bill Parcells and two years away from Vinny Testaverde at the helm. Longevity and historic production earn Clifton a spot in the top-10.

9. Darrelle Revis, CB, NY Jets (14th overall - 2007)

Darrelle Revis had arguably the greatest peak of any cornerback in NFL history. The Jets moved up 11 spots on draft day to select Revis with the hope that he would develop into a defensive cornerstone.

No one could have expected the level of dominance he would show over the better part of the next decade, however. Revis was named to seven Pro Bowls, four first-team All-Pros, and the NFL's 2010s All-Decade team following a stellar 11-year career.

His time at the top wasn't quite as long as some others on this list, and his relationship with the organization wasn't always on the best of terms. That keeps him from ranking any higher than he does.

However, history will be even kinder to Revis and he will always be considered one of the greatest Jets of all time. It's safe to say that the trade-up was worth it.

8. Randy Rasmussen, OG, NY Jets (302nd overall - 1967)

Compared to some of the other names on this list, let alone those in the top-10, Randy Rasmussen doesn't exactly have the same accolades or pedigree as his fellow former Jets.

However, if you're looking for a pure value selection, you aren't going to do much better than the team's longtime starting left guard.

Rasmussen was selected 302nd overall in the 12th round of the 1967 NFL Draft. Despite this, he would go on to start all 14 games as a rookie and serve as the Jets' starting left guard for the next 15 years.

At the time of writing, Rasmussen ranks second all-time behind Pat Leahy in games played with the Jets having started 199 games from 1967 to 1981. That type of longevity needs to be celebrated, especially when it's found past the 300th pick of the draft.

7. Gerry Philbin, DE, NY Jets (19th overall - 1964)

When discussing the best pass rushers in Jets history, most immediately think of the New York Sack Exchange members in the '80s, but it's important not to overlook a great pass rusher that came before them.

Gerry Philbin was drafted in the third round of both the 1964 NFL and AFL Draft by the Detroit Lions and Jets. He chose to sign with the latter, and it likely was the correct choice.

Philbin played nine seasons with the Jets from 1964 to 1972 helping earn the team their only Super Bowl victory. He was named All-AFL twice, was named to two Pro Bowls, and is a member of the AFL's All-Time team.

An often overlooked member of the Jets' Ring of Honor, Philbin shouldn't be forgotten about when discussing the greatest draft picks in franchise history.

6. Freeman McNeil, RB, NY Jets (3rd overall - 1981)

Expectations are high for a player when they're drafted third overall, and Freeman McNeil did his best to surpass any and all expectations placed before him.

McNeil spent his entire 12-year career with the Jets where he rightfully became known as one of the best running backs of his era. He finished his career with a whopping 8,074 yards which ranks second all-time in Jets history behind just Curtis Martin.

The former UCLA star became the first Jets player to lead the league in rushing when he did so in 1982, and to this day, he's one of only a handful of players to average 4.0 yards per carry in every season of his career.

McNeil had lofty expectations to live up to, but it's safe to say that he did just that. He's one of the greatest Jets of all-time.

5. Mo Lewis, LB, NY Jets (63rd overall - 1991)

To some, Mo Lewis will always be remembered as the man who kickstarted the career of Tom Brady and set forth a multi-decade-long reign of terror that is still tormenting the NFL at the time of writing.

But to minimize his career to the byproduct of one unfortunate tackle is silly. Mo Lewis was a damn good player for the Jets and arguably the best linebacker in franchise history.

A third-round pick in the 1991 NFL Draft, Lewis spent 13 seasons with the Jets earning three Pro Bowl nods and being named first-team All-Pro in 1998.

Lewis ranks second all-time in Jets history and 25th in NFL history with 1,232 career tackles. Only three players have appeared in more games for the Jets. Given that he was a third-round pick, it's impossible to leave Lewis off this list.

4. Wesley Walker, WR, NY Jets (33rd overall - 1977)

Now we get into the elite of the elite. These are the undisputed four best draft picks in Jets history, starting with another player from that historic 1977 draft class that also featured the likes of Marvin Powell and Dan Alexander (as well as another player on this list).

Wesley Walker may not be the best wide receiver in Jets history — that honor likely belongs to Don Maynard. But Walker's a close second.

Walker ranks second in Jets history behind Maynard in receiving yards and touchdowns having spent 13 seasons with the franchise. He's a rightful member of the team's Ring of Honor and an obvious selection for this list.

The Jets managed to grab one of the better wide receivers of his era in the second round. That's a great draft pick if I've ever seen one.

3. Mark Gastineau, DE, NY Jets (41st overall - 1979)

The first member of the New York Sack Exchange on this list, Mark Gastineau is one of the most iconic players in Jets history. From his signature sack dance to his record-breaking production, Gastineau belongs high on this list.

Drafted in the second round of the 1979 NFL Draft, Gastineau played 10 seasons with the Jets, and while his peak wasn't super long, he was one of the best players in the NFL during that time.

Gastineau was named the 1982 NFL Defensive Player of the Year and recorded a then-NFL-record 22.0 sacks in 1984 — a record that stood for 17 years until it was broken (in controversial fashion) by Michael Strahan in 2001.

He's one of the greats in franchise history, and seeing as he wasn't even a top-40 pick, Gastineau is absolutely one of the best draft picks the Jets have ever made.

2. Joe Klecko, DL, NY Jets (144th overall - 1977)

While many would argue that Mark Gastineau was the better player between him and Joe Klecko, if we're looking at the pure value of a draft pick, the latter has to be ranked higher.

Klecko was drafted all the way in the sixth round of the 1977 NFL Draft, a draft that also included the likes of Marvin Powell, Wesley Walker, and Dan Alexander — all of whom are on this list.

The ever-versatile Klecko led the NFL in sacks in 1981, made four Pro Bowls, is a former Defensive Player of the Year, is a member of the Jets' Ring of Honor, and is one of just five Jets to have their number retired by the organization.

He was the heart and soul of the New York Sack Exchange and the best value pick in that historic 1977 draft class. Klecko is only edged out by one legendary Jet who deserves a list of his own.

1. Joe Namath, QB, NY Jets (1st overall - 1965)

Who else was it going to be? Sure, we could have gone for the better "value" pick with Joe Klecko, but when the best player in franchise history is drafted by said franchise, he has to be considered that team's best overall draft pick.

The Jets used the first overall pick in the 1965 AFL Draft to select the player who would soon after become synonymous with their franchise.

From 1965 to 1976, Namath served as the starting quarterback for the Jets, making five Pro Bowls, earning two AFL Player of the Year honors, and leading the team to their first and so far only Super Bowl victory in 1969.

Namath is the most influential player in Jets history. He's a Hall of Famer, an NFL icon, and, as a result, the best draft pick in the history of the New York Jets.