As the old saying goes, championships are won in the middle rounds of the NFL draft.
First-round picks tend to steal the show and generate headlines, but mid-round selections usually wind up being the glue that holds the roster together. The Jets’ draft history is not one to write home about, but New York has landed its fair share of successful value picks over the years.
Some of the players on this list put together careers that landed them in the Jets’ Ring of Honor, while others served as solid contributing pieces over an extended period of time. With that being said, here are seven of the best value picks in franchise history.
Joe Klecko (No. 144 overall)
When discussing the best value picks in franchise history, the conversation begins and ends with Joe Klecko.
A sixth-round pick out of Temple in 1977, Klecko put together a Hall of Fame-worthy career. He is the only player in NFL history to be selected to the pro bowl at three different defensive line positions (defensive end, nose tackle, defensive tackle). Klecko was also a key member of the “New York Sack Exchange” and earned four Pro Bowl selections to go along with two All-Pro selections.
Klecko is one of five players in franchise history to have his number retired. The only thing separating him from football immortality is a call from Canton. Not bad for a sixth-round pick.
Mark Gastineau (No. 41 overall)
Joining Klecko on New York’s dominant defensive line was one of the league’s best pass rushers in Mark Gastineau. He too wound up being an outstanding value pick for the Jets, as New York waited until the second-round to scoop up the Arizona State product.
In 1984, Gastineau broke the single-season sack record with 22, a record that stood until 2001. He was also a five-time pro bowler and three-time All-Pro selection.
Gastineau is remembered by many for his antics, but there’s no denying his dominance rushing off the edge. Not only is he one of New York’s greatest value picks, but he is also one of the best picks in franchise history period.
Nick Mangold (No. 29 overall)
Mangold is the only first-round selection on this list, but it’s not often a team lands a potential Hall of Fame center late on Day 1 of the draft.
For a decade, Mangold was the anchor of the Jets’ offensive line. Under his leadership, New York frequently featured one of the best offensive fronts in the league in both run and pass protection. In 2009, Mangold helped pave the way for the Jets to run for an NFL-best 172 yards per game. For his efforts, he earned five pro bowl selections to go along with two All-Pro nods.
Replacing Hall of Famer Kevin Mawae was no easy task, but Mangold lived up to the billing. It wouldn’t be much of a shock to see his name in the Ring of Honor one day.
Mo Lewis (No. 63 overall)
Before there was David Harris (who we will get to in a minute), there was Mo Lewis.
For 13 years, Lewis was the anchor of New York’s defense at middle linebacker. The former third-round picked earned three pro bowl and two All-Pro selections in his career, but his accolades do not speak to the impact he had on the Jets’ defense. Lewis currently ranks fourth in franchise history in games played with 200 and his 52.5 sacks are the fourth-most in team history and most by a linebacker. Lewis also forced 26 fumbles and recovered 13.
Throughout his time in New York, all Lewis did was produce and help the Jets win games. He was a model of consistency, and one of the greatest linebackers to don the Green and White.
David Harris (No. 47 overall)
Four years after Mo Lewis called it quits, David Harris stepped in and became the latest anchor of New York’s defense.
Just as Lewis was, Harris served as Mr. Reliable in the middle of the Jets’ defense for nearly a decade. The only accolades he garnered were an All-Rookie nod in 2007 and a second-team All-Pro selection in 2009, but without Harris, it’s hard to imagine what New York’s defense would’ve looked like. In six of his 10 seasons with the Jets, he recorded over 100 tackles.
Leon Washington (No. 117 overall)
From 2006-2009, Leon Washington was one of the most dynamic return specialists in the NFL. Given his prowess for making big plays, it’s hard to believe he was a fourth-round selection out of Florida State.
In only four seasons with New York, Washington racked up 2,986 return yards and four touchdowns. He also hurt opponents catching passes out of the backfield.
Washington is not the most memorable name in franchise history, but he was an impactful one in his time with the team. Considering where he was drafted, Washington goes down as a steal and an excellent value selection.
Wesley Walker (No. 33 overall)
For 12 years, Wesley Walker was a dangerous weapon at wide receiver for the Jets. In 1978, the California product and former second-round pick led the NFL in receiving yards and earned pro bowl and All-Pro selections as a result. In 1982, he garnered another pro bowl nod.
Arguably Walker’s best season came in 1983, as he recorded 61 receptions and a career-high 12 touchdown catches. When he retired in 1989, Walker concluded his career with 438 receptions, 8,306 yards and 71 touchdowns. Those numbers were good enough to land him a spot in New York’s Ring of Honor and a spot on this list as one of the best value picks in franchise history.
