Drafting is an inexact science. Unless you’re the New York Jets. Then you know exactly which pick will enrage your entire fan base. Below the jump is a montage of some of the most memorable selections (Kyle Brady over Warren Sapp? Oops!) and Jets fans’ reactions during the NFL Draft and a list of how each player fared in the league. Full clip
1980: WR Johnny “Lam” Jones, Texas (2nd overall)
Fleet of foot but with hands of stone Jones, lasted just four seasons with the Jets. He finished with 138 career receptions. The next WR off the board, Art Monk, finished with 940 and a bust in Canton.
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1981: RB Freeman McNeil, UCLA (3rd overall)
McNeal played for 12 seasons with the Jets and was part of a running back duo known as the 2 Headed Monster. Certainly not a bust, but it didn’t help that the Giants selected Lawrence Taylor right before that.
1983: QB Ken O’Brien, UC Davis (24th overall)
O’Brien passed for over 25,000 yards over 11 seasons and is the only Jets quarterback ever be ranked the No. 1 passer for a season. But he was always labeled a bust by Jets fans who wanted Dan Marino – taken three picks later.
1987: FB Roger Vick, Texas A&M (21st overall)
Vick lasted just two seasons with the Jets and was out of the league by 1990. A bust by anyone’s standards.
1989: LB Jeff Lageman, Virginia (14th overall)
Lagemen played with the Jets until 1994 and had his best season in 1991 with 10 sacks.
1990: RB Blair Thomas, Penn State (2nd overall)
Thomas led all AFC rookies in yards-per-carry and total yardage, but finished his Jets career with just 2,000 yards and five touchdowns over four seasons. This pick really haunts Jets fans, considering they could have had Emmitt Smith instead.
1992: TE Johnny Mitchell, Nebraska (15th overall)
Mitchell had his best season in 1994 when he caught 58 passes for 749 yards and four touchdowns but his career only lasted five years, four with the Jets.
1995: TE Kyle Brady, Penn State (9th overall)
Brady played just four unremarkable seasons with the Jets, which may have been four too many considering how unpopular his selection was.
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