John Idzik’s infamous 2014 draft class is no longer represented on the Jets roster.
New York had 12 picks in the 2014 NFL Draft, the most of any team. The draft was a disaster though, as Idzik and the Jets wound up with one of the worst classes in franchise history. It’s a big reason why the Jets have the least amount of homegrown players in the NFL.
The one diamond in the rough? A sixth-round pick out of the University of Nebraska by the name of Quincy Enunwa. However, Enunwa is set to miss yet another season with yet another neck injury, which means there won’t be a single member of the Idzik 12 on New York’s active roster in 2020. Even worse, only one member of that draft class remains on any team’s active roster.
With Enunwa on the PUP list, we thought it was time to revisit Idzik’s horrid dozen picks.
1st round: Calvin Pryor | S | Lousiville
The Jets’ drafted a hard-hitting safety known as the “Louisville Slugger” in a league that started to penalize more flagrant hits. Drafting Calvin Pryor was a surprise at the time and seemed more like a Rex Ryan pick than anything.
Pryor often struggled in coverage and New York found that out the hard way. The Jets traded Pryor for Demario Davis after drafting Jamal Adams and Marcus Maye to replace him.
Pryor was cut by the Browns after getting in a fight with a teammate. He was then signed by Idzik’s Jaguars but was cut in early December 2017. Pryor is currently a free agent.
2nd round: Jace Amaro | TE | Texas Tech
Jace Amaro appeared to be a steal in the second round but never developed into the dual-threat tight end New York thought it was getting.
Amaro had a disappointing rookie season and had a habit of dropping passes. He tore his labrum and missed all of the 2015 season. The Jets then waived Amaro before final roster cuts in 2016.
Amaro was claimed off waivers by the Titans and was buried on the depth chart as the third tight end, barely seeing the field. Tennessee cut him after one season. He later spent 2018 with the Kansas City Chiefs organization.
Most recently, Amaro was drafted in the fourth round of the 2020 XFL Draft by the Seattle Dragons. He is currently a free agent.
3rd round: Dexter McDougle | CB | Maryland
Dexter McDougle was an injury-prone corner at the University of Maryland. None of that changed after the Jets drafted him.
In McDougle’s first training camp, he tore his ACL and missed the entire season. McDougle then bounced around from the Jets’ practice squad, injured reserve and active roster.
McDougle was traded before the start of the 2017 season to the Philadelphia Eagles for safety Terrence Brooks. McDougle played eight games for the Eagles, serving as a backup cornerback and special teams player, before being waived.
He is currently on the Winnipeg Blue Bombers of the Candian Football League.
4th round: Jalen Saunders | WR | Oklahoma
In a draft that produced wide receivers such as Odell Beckahm Jr., Mike Evans, Davante Adams, Sammy Watkins, Brandin Cooks and Jarvis Landry, the Jets ended up with Jalen Saunders. He was cut three games into his rookie season.
Saunders later signed with six different teams’ practice squads until he was suspended for violating the NFL’s substance-abuse policy.
Saunders spent time as a wide receiver and return specialist for the Canadian Football League’s Hamilton Tiger-Cats. Before the 2019 season, Saunders was cut by the Tiger-Cats.
He was selected in the seventh round of phase one of the 2020 XFL Draft by the Houston Roughnecks. Saunders was placed on injured reserve at the start of the season and had his contract terminated when the league filed for bankruptcy. Saunders then signed with the Ottawa Redblacks of the CFL.
4th round: Shaq Evans | WR | UCLA
Before he could appear in an NFL game, Shaq Evans was placed on injured reserve with a shoulder injury. The Jets cut Evans the following September.
Evans signed with three different teams’ practice squads. He signed a future/reserve deal with the Cowboys but was cut after he was suspended four games for violating the NFL’s drug policy.
Since 2018, Evans has been with the CFL’s Saskatchewan Roughriders.
4th round: Dakota Dozier | G | Furman
Dakota Dozier served primarily as a depth piece for the Jets during his tenure in New York. He played in 14 games in 2017, starting three in place of an injured Brian Winters.
Dozier has been with the Minnesota Vikings since 2019. He left the Jets in free agency to reunite with his former position coach, Rick Dennison. Dozier re-signed with Minnesota in March to continue to serve as a depth piece on the interior offensive line. Barring an injury or an unforeseen comeback, he will be the only member of the Idzik 12 on an active NFL roster in 2020.
5th round: Jeremiah George | ILB | Iowa State
The Jets drafted Jeremiah George in the fifth round in 2014. He was let go during final roster cuts and signed to the Jets practice squad. Two weeks later, the Jaguars signed him to their active roster.
After bouncing around for a bit, George found a home with the Indianapolis Colts, where he was a backup middle linebacker and special teamer from 2017-18. He was waived after being placed on injured reserve at the beginning of the 2018 season and has been a free agent since.
6th round: Brandon Dixon | CB | Northwest Missouri State
After getting drafted in the sixth round by the Jets, New York cut Brandon Dixon during final roster cuts in 2014.
Dixon moved around from six different teams in two years. He was picked up by the Giants late in the 2017 season but failed to stick around. Dixon was most recently a member of the Orlando Apollos of the now-defunct Alliance of American Football.
6th round: Quincy Enunwa | WR | Nebraska
Quincy Enunwa wound up being the best draft pick from this infamous draft class, but his career could be over at just 27 years old.
Enunwa (neck) was placed on the PUP list and is out for the 2020 season. He is likely done as a member of the Jets organization and was the last remaining member of the Idzik 12 in New York.
Following a healthy return from his first bout with a neck injury, Enunwa inked a four-year, $36 million contract extension. He played just one game after signing the extension, injuring his neck in Week 1 of the 2019 season.
6th round: IK Enemkpali | DE | Louisiana Tech
IK Enkempali’s most notable Jets contribution was an altercation with Geno Smith that left the starting quarterback with a broken jaw.
The Jets cut Enemkpali shortly thereafter and the Buffalo Bills and Rex Ryan scooped him up off waivers. Enemkpali would later be suspended four games by the NFL for his involvement in the locker room incident.
Enemkpali tore his ACL and was then waived by the Bills. He spent a month with the Las Vegas Raiders in 2017 and was subsequently waived. He’s been a free agent since.
6th round: Tahj Boyd | QB | Clemson
Rex Ryan got to know Boyd through his son, Seth, who was a walk-on at Clemson. The pick ended up being a waster for New York.
Boyd spent some time with the Steelers for a cup of coffee before his football career ended in 2015 with the Montreal Alouettes of the CFL. He currently does some college football analysis.
7th round: Trevor Reilly | LB | Utah
Trevor Reilly was a special teams player with the Jets and filled in a little bit at inside linebacker.
Reilly was waived/injured by the Jets and picked up by the Dolphins in 2016. To continue his tour of the AFC East, Reilly signed to the Patriots practice squad and was promoted to the active roster in 2017.
After his second stint with the Patriots, Reilly was waived again. He joined the Salt Lake Stallions of the now-defunct Alliance of American Football and is currently a free agent.
