Editing New York Jets (section)

===Notable first-round draft picks===
{{For|more information|List of New York Jets first-round draft picks}}

Perhaps the most famous of the Jets' first round picks came in 1965 when they selected Alabama quarterback Joe Namath who boosted the Jets into the national spotlight with his boisterous personality and lifestyle.<ref name="Joe Willie">Chastain, pp. 1–4</ref> His physical talents on the field helped improve the Jets' fortunes, leading them to victory over the Baltimore Colts in Super Bowl III.<ref name="Joe Willie"/> Though injuries hampered the latter part of Namath's career, he is best remembered, according to former teammate [[John Dockery]], as "a guy that came along and broke a lot of the conventions."<ref name="Joe Willie"/> Namath was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1985.<ref name="Joe Willie"/>

The Jets have had a history of selecting players who turned out to be [[draft bust]]s.<ref name="q504">{{cite web | last=Cimini | first=Rich | title=Boos, busts and blunders: New York Jets battle history of imperfect 10s in NFL draft | website=ESPN.com | date=2022-04-08 | url=https://www.espn.com/blog/new-york-jets/post/_/id/89259/boos-busts-and-blunders-new-york-jets-battle-history-of-imperfect-10s-in-nfl-draft | access-date=2024-08-22}}</ref> Perhaps one of the most disappointing players in Jets history was running back [[Blair Thomas]]. Thomas, who averaged 5.4 yards per carry at Penn State, was an intriguing prospect the Jets were interested in utilizing to help their cumbersome offense.<ref name=" B. Thomas">Chastain, pp. 222–224</ref> Confident in their decision, the Jets drafted Thomas with the second overall pick in 1990, expecting him to be a solid player for years to come.<ref name=" B. Thomas"/> Thomas ran for only 620&nbsp;yards in 1990, and failed to meet the high expectations.<ref name=" B. Thomas"/> By the time Thomas left the team as an unrestricted free agent in 1993, he had rushed for 2,009 yards and only five touchdowns.<ref name=" B. Thomas"/> The 2008 first round pick, outside linebacker [[Vernon Gholston]], followed a similar path, failing to record a sack during his three-year tenure with the team.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Cimini |first=Rich |date=March 2, 2011 |title=Jets cut Vernon Gholston, Ben Hartsock |url=https://www.espn.com/new-york/nfl/news/story?id=6175578 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110306130616/http://sports.espn.go.com/new-york/nfl/news/story?id=6175578 |archive-date=March 6, 2011 |access-date=March 2, 2011 |website=[[ESPN.com]]}}</ref>

[[Kyle Brady]] in 1995, who was drafted ahead of [[Warren Sapp]], one of many disappointments during [[Rich Kotite]]'s tenure as coach.<ref name="l619">{{cite web | last=Cimini | first=Rich | title=Jets' Brady hunch in '95 altered NFL history | website=ESPN.com | date=2015-04-23 | url=https://www.espn.com/nfl/draft2015/story/_/id/12741261/new-york-jets-altered-nfl-history-drafting-kyle-brady-warren-sapp-1995 | access-date=2024-08-22}}</ref> However, in the same draft, the Jets did better with [[Hugh Douglas (American football)|Hugh Douglas]]. [[Dewayne Robertson]] was a fourth overall selection in 2003 by the Jets. The defensive tackle out of [[University of Kentucky|Kentucky]] failed to make a big impact with the team. He accounted for 14.5 sacks in his 5 seasons with the team, a rather underwhelming player given what the Jets had hoped for.<ref>{{Cite web |date=April 26, 2017 |title=New York Jets' 7 Biggest Draft Busts |url=http://newyork.cbslocal.com/2017/04/26/new-york-jets-7-biggest-draft-busts/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180416073740/http://newyork.cbslocal.com/2017/04/26/new-york-jets-7-biggest-draft-busts/ |archive-date=April 16, 2018 |access-date=April 15, 2018 |website=CBS – New York}}</ref> At quarterback, the Jets found themselves dealing with the consequences of drafting [[University of Alabama]] quarterback [[Richard Todd (American football)|Richard Todd]] in 1976. In his tenure with the Jets, he threw for more interceptions than he did touchdowns. In the 1982 season, the Jets played vs the [[Miami Dolphins]] in the [[AFC Championship Game]]. Todd threw for five interceptions and the Jets lost the game. A year later, Todd would be traded to the [[New Orleans Saints]].<ref>{{Cite web |last=Slater |first=Darryl |date=January 15, 2018 |title=Ranking Jets' all-time worst picks in top 10 of draft |url=http://www.nj.com/jets/index.ssf/2018/01/ranking_jets_all-time_worst_picks_in_top_10_of_nfl.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180416075605/http://www.nj.com/jets/index.ssf/2018/01/ranking_jets_all-time_worst_picks_in_top_10_of_nfl.html |archive-date=April 16, 2018 |access-date=April 15, 2018 |website=NJ.com}}</ref> The most recent bust, [[Dee Milliner]], was drafted by the team in 2013. Milliner played his college career at the University of Alabama and had high expectations after being drafted. Lasting just 3 years with the team, Milliner's career was plagued by injuries and inconsistency, recording only 3 interceptions during his brief Jets career.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Sabin |first=Rainer |date=May 11, 2017 |title=Why was All-Saban team pick Dee Milliner an NFL bust? |url=http://www.al.com/alabamafootball/index.ssf/2017/05/why_was_all-saban_team_pick_de.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180416200340/http://www.al.com/alabamafootball/index.ssf/2017/05/why_was_all-saban_team_pick_de.html |archive-date=April 16, 2018 |access-date=April 15, 2018 |website=AL.com}}</ref>

In the 2013 and 2014 seasons, one of the Jets' strongest units was their defensive line, manned by first round selections [[Muhammad Wilkerson]] (2011) and [[Sheldon Richardson]] (2013). In 2013, Wilkerson ended the season with 10.5 sacks, matching the last Jets player to have more than 10 sacks in a single season, [[John Abraham (American football)|John Abraham]] in 2005.<ref name="o567">{{cite web | title=Most sacks in a single season by one player, New York Jets | website=StatMuse | date=2024-01-07 | url=https://www.statmuse.com/nfl/ask/most-sacks-in-a-season-by-a-jets-player | access-date=2024-08-22}}</ref> Also that year, Richardson was honored with an award from the [[Associated Press|AP]] for [[National Football League Rookie of the Year Award#Associated Press NFL ROTY Award|Defensive Rookie of the Year]].<ref>{{Cite web |last=Wesseling |first=Chris |date=February 1, 2014 |title=Sheldon Richardson wins Defensive Rookie of the Year |url=https://www.nfl.com/news/sheldon-richardson-wins-defensive-rookie-of-the-year-0ap2000000321595 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141228195114/http://www.nfl.com/news/story/0ap2000000321595/article/sheldon-richardson-wins-defensive-rookie-of-the-year |archive-date=December 28, 2014 |access-date=January 9, 2015 |website=[[NFL.com]]}}</ref> The Jets' run defense was stout with all three in the line up, finishing fifth as a team in rushing yards allowed in 2014.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Lange |first=Randy |date=January 7, 2015 |title=Wilkerson, Richardson at the Forefront in '14 |url=http://www.newyorkjets.com/news/article-randylangefb/Wilkerson-Richardson-at-the-Forefront-in-14/44baf916-d168-487a-bc49-b4aedcd46f2d |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150109223724/http://www.newyorkjets.com/news/article-randylangefb/Wilkerson-Richardson-at-the-Forefront-in-14/44baf916-d168-487a-bc49-b4aedcd46f2d |archive-date=January 9, 2015 |access-date=January 9, 2015 |website=NewYorkJets.com}}</ref>

In the [[2017 NFL draft]], the Jets selected [[Jamal Adams]] with the sixth overall pick out of [[LSU Tigers football|LSU]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=Jamal Adams Stats, Height, Weight, Position, Draft, College |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/A/AdamJa00.htm |access-date=2024-08-22 |website=[[Pro Football Reference]] |language=en}}</ref> Adams had a strong start to his early career, making the Pro Bowl in the [[2018 NFL season|2018 season]] and winning the Defensive MVP Award alongside Kansas City Chiefs' quarterback [[Patrick Mahomes]] as the Offensive MVP.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Lange |first=Randy |date=January 27, 2019 |title=Jamal Adams Named Defensive MVP in AFC Pro Bowl Win |url=https://www.newyorkjets.com/news/jamal-adams-named-defensive-mvp-in-afc-pro-bowl-win |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200803145845/https://www.newyorkjets.com/news/jamal-adams-named-defensive-mvp-in-afc-pro-bowl-win |archive-date=August 3, 2020 |access-date=September 30, 2019 |website=NewYorkJets.com}}</ref>

In the [[2019 NFL draft]], the Jets selected [[Quinnen Williams]] from Alabama with the third overall pick.<ref name="s089">{{cite web | last=Vasquez | first=Andy | title=NFL Draft: NY Jets take Quinnen Williams with the No. 3 pick | website=Bergen Record | date=April 26, 2019 | url=https://www.northjersey.com/story/sports/nfl/jets/2019/04/25/nfl-draft-ny-jets-take-quinnen-williams-no-3-pick/3570168002/ | access-date=July 31, 2024}}</ref> Williams had been touted as the best overall prospect leading up to the draft, being compared to defensive tackle superstar [[Aaron Donald]]. Williams ended up being the final first-round pick by then general manager [[Mike Maccagnan]], who was fired shortly after the draft.<ref name="m520">{{cite web | last=Bergman | first=Jeremy | title=Jets owner explains decision to fire Mike Maccagnan | website=NFL.com | date=May 15, 2019 | url=https://www.nfl.com/news/jets-owner-explains-decision-to-fire-mike-maccagnan-0ap3000001030976 | access-date=July 31, 2024}}</ref> Williams struggled in his rookie year with injuries and inconsistent play, but showed promise as a defensive anchor in his 2020 season: he recorded 7.0 sacks and 55 total tackles before being added to the Injured Reserved list in the final weeks of the season.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Quinnen Williams Stats, Height, Weight, Position, Draft, College |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/W/WillQu00.htm |access-date=July 31, 2024 |website=[[Pro Football Reference]] |language=en}}</ref>

In the [[2022 NFL draft]], the Jets made three selections in the first round. The Jets selected cornerback [[Sauce Gardner]] from the [[University of Cincinnati]] fourth overall. He made the [[2022 All-Pro Team]] as a rookie, the first to do so at his position since [[Ronnie Lott]] in 1981.<ref>{{Cite web |date=January 13, 2023 |title=2022 All-Pro Team: Travis Kelce, Justin Jefferson, Sauce Gardner highlight roster |url=https://www.nfl.com/news/2022-all-pro-team-travis-kelce-justin-jefferson-sauce-gardner-highlight-roster |access-date=January 24, 2023 |website=NFL.com |agency=Associated Press}}</ref> The second of their three first round selections was wide receiver [[Garrett Wilson]] from [[Ohio State]], who was selected 10th overall. The Jets third and final selection in the first round was defensive end [[Jermaine Johnson II]] of [[Florida State University]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=2022 New York Jets Draftees |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/teams/nyj/2022_draft.htm |access-date=July 31, 2024 |website=[[Pro Football Reference]] |language=en}}</ref>