Backdraft: New York Jets

BACKDRAFT SERIES: For 16 days leading up to the 2011 NFL Draft, we're rolling out capsule draft histories of each of the 32 NFL Teams.

 

Backdraft Series

Apr. 12 - Packers | Steelers

Apr. 13 - Bears | Jets

Apr. 14- Patriots | Falcons

Apr. 15- Ravens | Seahawks

Apr. 16- Saints | Eagles

Apr. 17- Colts | Chiefs

Apr. 18- Buccaneers | Giants

Apr. 19- Chargers | Raiders

Apr. 20- Jaguars | Dolphins

Apr. 21- Rams | Lions

Apr. 22- Vikings | Texans

Apr. 23- Redskins | Cowboys

Apr. 24- Titans | 49ers

Apr. 25- Browns | Cardinals

Apr. 26- Bengals | Bills

Apr. 27- Broncos | Panthers

2011 Draft Position:

• 30

First-Ever Draft Pick:

• George Izo, QB, Notre Dame (1960 AFL). The AFL's first draft had a provision where each of the eight clubs had one "territorial" or "bonus" pick. New York, then called the Titans, used their selection on Izo. He opted for the NFL over the upstart AFL. Izo played sparingly over seven seasons with the St. Louis Cardinals, Washington Redskins, Detroit Lions, and Pittsburgh Steelers.

 

Most Recent Draft Pick:

• John Conner, RB, Kentucky (5th round, 139th overall, in 2010)

 

Hall of Famers Drafted:

• Herb Adderley - 2nd round, 1961 AFL Draft (also picked in 1st Round, 12th overall, of NFL Draft by Green Bay Packers)
• John Mackey – 5th round (35th overall), 1963 AFL Draft (also picked in 2nd round, 19th overall, of NFL Draft by Baltimore Colts)
• Joe Namath - 1st round, 1965 AFL Draft (also picked in 1st round, 12th overall of NFL Draft by St. Louis Cardinals.)
• John Riggins - 1st round (6th overall), 1971

 

First Overall Pick in the NFL Draft:

1996 – Keyshawn Johnson, WR, Southern California

 

Joe Namath	John Riggins	Keyshawn Johnson

Did you know?

Only 10 of 113 players drafted during the franchise's first three years ended up playing for New York. Two of the players, Herb Adderley and John Mackey, chose to play for the NFL teams that drafted them and went on to have Hall of Fame careers.

But, the Jets did build a decent backfield through the draft during the '60s taking fullback Matt Snell third overall in 1964; quarterback Joe Namath in 1965; and halfback Emerson Boozer in the sixth round of the 1966 AFL Draft.

 

Quotable:

"A lot of my friends called me up after watching the draft on EPSN. They told me New York was in a state of shock. Then my friends said the people in New York must love me. They're booing me already."

Those words came from Ken O'Brien after the Jets made him one of six QBs drafted in the first round of the now famous 1983 NFL Draft. While the Jets fans may not have been enamored with the pick, the team's front office was thrilled to land O'Brien. For months New York had him on their radar as the heir apparent to QB Richard Todd.

O'Brien played 10 seasons with New York and eclipsed the 3,000-yard mark four times. He retired after one final season with the Philadelphia Eagles in 1993 as the NFL's 17th-rated passer of all-time.

 

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Who in '11?

Post your comment with who you think the Jets should select in the first round on April 28. Why?