8 players the NY Jets gave up on way too soon

The NY Jets haven't always been the best at evaluating and retaining their own talented players. Throughout the franchise's 60+ years of existence, the Jets have shown a number of players the door, only for said players to find success elsewhere.

Some of those players showed flashes of their talent with the Jets before blossoming into true stars elsewhere. Others never came close to reaching their potential with the team, but they certainly found more success after leaving.

Either way, the Jets have seen this happen to quite a few of their former players over the years. Given that it's June and there isn't much to talk about, I thought it might be fun (read: traumatic?) to take a trip down the memory lane of Jets that got away.

Let's jump in and take a look at a few honorable mentions first. Actually, let's look at a couple of pre-honorable mentions before we really jump in.

Former NY Jets who deserve a shoutout

Danny Woodhead, RB

One of the most notable stars of the Jets' last "Hard Knocks" appearance, Danny Woodhead managed to carve out quite the NFL career for himself, despite his small stature. Woodhead played nine seasons in the NFL, developing into a versatile offensive weapon and special teamer.

He only played 11 games with the Jets, however, before the New England Patriots picked him up and turned him into a viable offensive contributor. Woodhead may have started his career with the Jets, but he didn't fully find his footing until after the team released him.

Jason Myers, K

The Jets seemed to have finally found the solution to their long-standing kicker problem when the newly-signed Jason Myers put together a Pro Bowl season from out of nowhere in 2018. However, then-general manager Mike Maccagnan opted not to re-sign Myers in the offseason.

In his four years since leaving the Jets, Myers has developed into one of the league's best kickers, including a perfect 24-for-24 season in 2020 and a Pro Bowl appearance in 2022. His initial replacement, Chandler Catanzaro, retired before the subsequent season began.

NY Jets honorable mentions

Leonard Williams, DE/DT

Leonard Williams had a very good four and a half years with the Jets' organization, but it wasn't until he was traded to the cross-stadium Giants that he became a true star. Williams' 11.5 sacks in 2020 were a career-high and would have been the most by a Jets player in half a decade.

Williams hasn't reached those heights since (which is why he's only an honorable mention), but it's fair to suggest that he saved his best football for the Giants. He remains a key cog in the middle of their defense.

Keyshawn Johnson, WR

Keyshawn Johnson's talent has never been in question, and it's certainly not the reason he was traded to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers ahead of the 2000 season. Johnson's off-field antics and attitude are what led the Jets to send him packing, but he still found plenty of success elsewhere.

Johnson won a Super Bowl with the Buccaneers, made a Pro Bowl, totaled six seasons with at least 800 yards, and had a career-best season in 2001. Was trading him still the right move? Perhaps, but he certainly succeeded in his post-Jets career.

Darrelle Revis, CB

The Jets traded another homegrown superstar, Darrelle Revis, to the Buccaneers over a decade later. This time, Revis would spend one year in Tampa Bay and another in New England before returning to the Jets in 2015.

Revis only spent two years away from the Jets, but in those two years, he earned multiple Pro Bowl honors and was named a first-team All-Pro. Revis' Jets career didn't exactly end on a high note, but it's fair to wonder what might have happened if he didn't leave the team in the first place.

Geno Smith, QB

It's too soon to make Geno Smith anything other than an honorable mention on this list, but he deserves that honor. After a decade of bouncing around the NFL as a backup, Smith finally received a starting opportunity again in 2022, and he exceeded any and all expectations.

Smith was genuinely one of the best quarterbacks in the NFL last season, as evidenced by his Pro Bowl appearance. It's hard to argue the Jets made a mistake here, but Smith certainly saved his best years for his post-Jets career.

8. Kareem McKenzie, OT

A third-round pick in the 2001 NFL Draft, Kareem McKenzie took over as the Jets' starting right tackle in his second season. From 2002-2004, McKenzie started all 48 games for the Jets and became one of the team's most consistent and reliable starters.

Unfortunately, the Jets were unable to re-sign McKenzie once he hit the open market, allowing the New York Giants to steal him away. That's where McKenzie's career would truly take off.

The New Jersey native started 105 games over seven years with the Giants, helping lead the team to multiple Super Bowl titles. Meanwhile, aside from a few strong Damien Woody seasons, the Jets struggled to find a suitable replacement at right tackle.

McKenzie is far from the most high-profile player on this list, but it's fair to wonder how good the Jets' offensive line could have been had he never left. Perhaps he helps lead the Jets to a Super Bowl instead of their in-state rivals.

7. Jonathan Vilma, LB

Many Jets players have been sent packing throughout their history in the name of scheme fit. One such player is former Defensive Rookie of the Year Jonathan Vilma.

Drafted in the first round in 2004, Vilma quickly established himself as one of the best young linebackers in football. He won Rookie of the Year, made the Pro Bowl the following season, led the league in tackles, and was a leader in the middle of the Jets' defense.

But with the Jets switching to a 3-4, then-general manager Mike Tannenbaum elected to send Vilma to the New Orleans Saints for a pair of mid-round picks. Vilma found new life in New Orleans.

Vilma spent six years as a starter with the Saints, making a pair of Pro Bowls in the process. Vilma's post-Jets success absolutely earns him a spot on this list.

6. Damon Harrison, DT

It's always rewarding for an organization when they find a diamond in the rough prospect that develops into a building block. Such was the case when former undrafted rookie Damon "Snacks" Harrison became a centerpiece of the Jets' defense.

Harrison was the Jets' starting nose tackle for three seasons before he signed a five-year deal with the Giants in free agency. In his first year with his new team, Harrison was named a first-team All-Pro for the first time in his career.

Harrison did only play another four years in the league following that All-Pro season, but he still proved to be one of the NFL's elite run-stuffing nose tackles. His best football came with the Giants, not the Jets.

It's fair to say the likes of Steve McLendon and Mike Pennel never matched Harrison's level of production.

5. Hugh Douglas, DE

Remember that scheme-fit discussion from before? That most definitely applies to former Jets defensive end Hugh Douglas as well.

The 16th overall pick in the 1995 NFL Draft, Douglas earned Defensive Rookie of the Year honors following a 10-sack campaign as a rookie. Less than three years later, he was shipped to the Philadelphia Eagles for a second and fifth-round pick.

Jets head coach Bill Parcells didn't see Douglas as a fit in the team's new 3-4 defense, so he unloaded him right as he was entering the prime of his career. Douglas earned multiple All-Pro and Pro Bowl honors with the Eagles, racking up 54.5 sacks over six years.

Douglas is now a member of the Eagles' Hall of Fame after recording three seasons with at least 12.5 sacks. Meanwhile, his Jets career was cut short before he truly realized his potential.

4. Santana Moss, WR

They say hindsight is 20/20, and that's very much the case when revisiting the trade that sent Santana Moss to Washington in exchange for former/future Jets wide receiver Laveranues Coles.

Coles had some good years in his second stint with the Jets, but he topped 1,000 yards just once and lasted only four seasons with the team. As for Moss, he fared quite a bit better in Washington.

Moss finished second in the entire NFL in receiving in his first year away from the Jets and recorded nearly 8,000 yards over 10 seasons with Washington. That includes three seasons with over 1,000 yards.

The Jets felt that Moss was underachieving at the time, and that may have been the case, but he certainly found more success after he was traded. No respect to the legend that is Laveranues Coles, but the Jets clearly lost this trade.

3. Demario Davis, LB

The Jets had not one but two opportunities to see Demario Davis' talent and lock him up long-term. Alas, it wasn't until Davis joined the New Orleans Saints that his career finally took off.

A third-round pick in the 2012 NFL Draft, Davis spent the first four years of his career in New York before he signed with the Cleveland Browns. After one year with the Browns, Davis rejoined the Jets in a trade that sent former first-round pick Calvin Pryor to Cleveland.

Davis would spend just one more season with the Jets before leaving again, this time to sign with the Saints. In five seasons with the Saints, Davis has been named to an All-Pro team four times and has developed into one of the NFL's best linebackers.

An on and off-field leader, Davis has been the heart and soul of the Saints' defense for years. The Jets just couldn't find a way to maximize his talent.

2. John Abraham, DE

John Abraham recorded 13 sacks and earned first-team All-Pro honors in just his second season in the NFL back in 2001. 22 years later, the Jets haven't had a single edge rusher record more than 10 sacks in a season since Abraham left.

Abraham was one of the best edge rushers in football with the Jets. He made three Pro Bowls in four years, recording 53.5 sacks in 73 games with his first team. That didn't stop the Jets from trading him to the Atlanta Falcons ahead of the 2006 season, however.

From injuries to a contract dispute, Abraham's relationship with the Jets was severed to the point of no return. That didn't stop him from putting together a decade-long, potentially Hall-of-Fame-worthy career after leaving the Jets.

Abraham would have five more seasons with at least 10 sacks, including a career-high 16.5 sacks in 2008. The Jets are still in search of their next star edge rusher.

1. John Riggins, RB

John Riggins was a really good player for the Jets in the early 1970s, even becoming the first player in franchise history to rush for over 1,000 yards in 1975. Unfortunately, that would end up being his final year with the team.

Riggins grew increasingly unhappy with his role on the team. The Jets remained a pass-heavy offense, despite Joe Namath's declining production. That ultimately led to Riggins departing in free agency that offseason to sign with Washington.

What followed would be a historic career that saw Riggins eventually enshrined in the Pro Football Hall of Fame. Riggins led the NFL in rushing touchdowns on multiple occasions, earned Pro Bowl and All-Pro honors, and was named to the league's All-1980s team.

Riggins is often regarded as one of the best running backs in NFL history, although it's generally overlooked that he spent the first four years of his legendary career with the Jets.

Given that Namath won just one more game with the Jets following Riggins' departure, it's safe to say that the organization probably missed on this one.