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New York Jets: Reaction to Re-Drafting the 2016 NFL Draft

By Nick Ziegler

Oct 9, 2016; Pittsburgh, PA, USA; New York Jets outside linebacker Darron Lee (50) makes a tackle on Pittsburgh Steelers tight end Jesse James (81) during the fourth quarter at Heinz Field. Pittsburgh won 31-13. Mandatory Credit: Mark Konezny-USA TODAY Sports
Oct 9, 2016; Pittsburgh, PA, USA; New York Jets outside linebacker Darron Lee (50) makes a tackle on Pittsburgh Steelers tight end Jesse James (81) during the fourth quarter at Heinz Field. Pittsburgh won 31-13. Mandatory Credit: Mark Konezny-USA TODAY Sports /
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Sports Illustrated recently re-drafted the entire first round of the 2016 NFL Draft. Who did the New York Jets take with the 20th overall pick?

Eric Single of Sports Illustrated recently did a great job re-drafting the entire first round of the 2016 NFL Draft. For the New York Jets, he had them going in a different direction with the 20th overall pick.

After a successful 2015 season, the Jets really struggled in 2016. Despite being one win away from being a playoff team in 2015, the Jets will be drafting in the top 10 of the 2017 NFL Draft.

One of the reasons why the Jets struggled was because of their first round pick in 2016. Linebacker Darron Lee didn’t have a good rookie season at all. As a whole, the Jets struggled on defense, and Lee was one of the players that did not play well.

In Sports Illustrated’s re-draft, Eric Single had the Jets selecting wide receiver Michael Thomas. Here’s what Single had to say about the pick.

"The fact that Thomas and Tyreek Hill are the two top-20 representatives of the 2016 WR class tells you all you need to know about the unpredictability that position’s rookies endured this year. (Heck, Super Bowl X-factor Malcolm Mitchell couldn’t crack this list.) Thomas looks like a budding star in the Saints’ pass-happy offense, and he could step in as either a lethal complement or an eventual replacement for Brandon Marshall."

As a rookie wide receiver for the Saints, Thomas had an amazing season. He was able to total 92 receptions, 1,137 receiving yards, and nine receiving touchdowns. This would have been an interesting selection for the Jets. Coming into the season, wide receiver was one of the strongest units on the Jets. However, Brandon Marshall isn’t getting any younger, and the Jets might actually part ways from him this offseason.

Next: Jets Mock Draft 2.0

It is worth noting that Lee was not selected by any team in the first round, showing that the Jets didn’t do a good job with their actual selection. Seeing some of the players that the Jets passed on in the draft is certainly alarming. However, Lee will have the opportunity to improve in his second season with the Jets, and hopefully become a solid linebacker for them.

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