The Jets are set to select No. 10 overall for the fifth time in franchise history in next week’s NFL Draft.
The number has been pretty good to them.
They selected a Hall of Famer at No. 10, though he never played a snap for them. They also selected one of the greatest receivers in franchise history at the spot and a potential great recently at No. 10.
Let’s take a look at the Jets’ history at No. 10 and a look back at NFL history at that draft position.
Jets picks at No. 10
The Jets had the No. 10 pick in the AFL Draft in 1961, their second year of existence.
They selected defensive back Herb Adderley out of Michigan State. But this was during the time when players could choose between the NFL and the AFL, and Adderley opted to play for the Packers in the NFL rather than the Jets. He went on to have a Hall of Fame career and was a key player during the Packers’ championship run of the 1960s. You can’t criticize the pick by the Jets, but they did not reap the rewards from it.
The Jets did not have the No. 10 pick again until 1984. They took cornerback Russell Carter out of SMU. Carter had a strong rookie season with four interceptions. He did not have another interception for the rest of his career and lasted just four years with the Jets.
The Jets again had the No. 10 pick a year later, and they grabbed Al Toon out of Wisconsin. Toon would become one of the best players in the history of the franchise.
Toon made three Pro Bowls and was All-Pro in 1986. He formed a terrific receiving tandem with Wesley Walker and was a popular target for Ken O’Brien. He is third in franchise history with 517 receptions.
And it has not been long since the Jets have had No. 10. They had it two years ago after acquiring the pick in a trade with the Seahawks.
They selected Garrett Wilson, who has looked like a star. Wilson has gone over 1,000 yards in each of his first two seasons despite playing with a rotating cast of quarterbacks.
NFL picks at No. 10
There have been some great players taken at No. 10 in NFL history. The Chiefs moved up to No. 10 in 2017 to select quarterback Patrick Mahomes. Three Super Bowl wins later, that pick seems to have worked out for them. Mahomes already may be the greatest pick ever at No. 10, but there are three others who are in the Hall of Fame already.
The Raiders selected running back Marcus Allen at that spot in 1982. He is 14th in career rushing yards in NFL history. Rod Woodson had 71 career interceptions after being selected by the Steelers in 1987 at No. 10 overall. Jerome Bettis made two All-Pro teams and now has a bust in Canton. The Rams took him in 1993 at No. 10.
Ravens edge rusher Terrell Suggs, the No. 10 pick in 2003, could join them in Canton soon. He is eligible for the Hall of Fame next year for the first time.
Recent picks at No. 10
Not all of the No. 10 picks work out even close to as well as those players, though.
Just take a look at the past 10 years and you’ll see some terrible misses at the spot:
2023: Darnell Wright, OT, Bears – Wright had a strong rookie season and looks like a keeper.
2022: Garrett Wilson, WR, Jets – As mentioned above, Wilson looks like a key piece of the Jets core for years to come, and he has done it with instability at quarterback.
2021: DeVonta Smith, WR, Eagles – Smith has gone over 1,000 yards receiving in each of the past two seasons and has formed a strong duo with A.J. Brown.
2020: Jedrick Wills, OT, Browns – The second tackle taken in that year’s draft, Wills has been a bit of a disappointment.
2019: Devin Bush, LB, Steelers – The Steelers let Bush go after four seasons, and he is now in Seattle.
2018: Josh Rosen, QB, Cardinals – It does not get much worse than this pick. The Cardinals drafted his replacement a year later with the Kyler Murray selection at No. 1.
2017: Patrick Mahomes, QB, Chiefs – It does not get any better than this pick. It is amazing to think that nine teams passed on Mahomes.
2016: Eli Apple, CB, Giants – He is on the list of big misses by the Giants in their recent draft history.
2015: Todd Gurley, RB, Rams – It did not last long, but Gurley was a dominant force for the Rams for about four years.
2014: Eric Ebron, TE, Lions – Ebron had a Pro Bowl season for the Colts, but never lived up to this draft status.
The Jets will now add to their history and the NFL’s history at No. 10.
Joe Douglas got it right in 2022. Can he do it again?
Dress for the wins you want
The Jets introduced new uniforms this week, and it reminded me of the last time they did this, back in 2019. I remember Sam Darnold saying the night they introduced them that the uniforms would not matter if they did not win games.
They ended up going 27-56 over the five years they wore those uniforms. So, yes, Jets fans would like to burn that version of the jerseys.
The new uniforms seem popular with the fans, and it is good the Jets are trying to make their fans happy. They have done a good job with improving the experience at MetLife Stadium over the past year. The night games, particularly Week 1, were electric during pregame.
But to really make the fans happy, the Jets now need to win.
This is the solution to myriad problems at One Jets Drive and something they have not been able to figure out in years. Winning is the ultimate deodorant, and the Jets have stunk for far too long.
New uniforms are nice, but they don’t do anything to help win games. A true Jets makeover would be a winning season.
Stat’s so
The Jets have done a lot of losing through the years, and they have a winning record against just six NFL teams. Here are their best records head-to-head with other organizations (regular season only):
vs. Buccaneers: 10-3 (.769)
vs. Texans: 7-3 (.700)
vs. Vikings: 8-4 (.667)
vs. Packers: 9-5 (.643)
vs. Cardinals: 6-4 (.600)
vs. Bengals: 16-11 (.593)
vs. Dolphins: 56-59-1 (.487)
vs. Browns: 14-15 (.483)
vs. Chiefs: 18-20-1 (.474)
vs. Lions: 7-8 (.467)
vs. Giants: 7-8 (.467)
Source: Pro Football Reference
