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New York Jets: Reaction To Mel Kiper Jr.’s 2016 NFL Draft Grade

By Kenneth Teape

Apr 28, 2016; Chicago, IL, USA; Darron Lee (Ohio State) with NFL commissioner Roger Goodell after being selected by the New York Jets as the number twenty overall pick in the first round of the 2016 NFL Draft at Auditorium Theatre. Mandatory Credit: Kamil Krzaczynski-USA TODAY Sports
Apr 28, 2016; Chicago, IL, USA; Darron Lee (Ohio State) with NFL commissioner Roger Goodell after being selected by the New York Jets as the number twenty overall pick in the first round of the 2016 NFL Draft at Auditorium Theatre. Mandatory Credit: Kamil Krzaczynski-USA TODAY Sports /
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How did the New York Jets do in the 2016 NFL Draft? We react to what ESPN’s Mel Kiper Jr. has to say about the 2016 draft class for the Jets.

The New York Jets came into the 2016 NFL Draft with their biggest hole being at quarterback with Ryan Fitzpatrick and the team being at an impasse in contract negotiations. Linebacker was also a need, but other than that, the Jets have a relatively strong roster with the biggest issue being the overall age of the team. They were able to hit on all of those needs, but did it result in a good grade?

Mel Kiper Jr. of ESPN hands out draft grades every year once the process is done. While there is very little grading to do as no one has taken the field yet, and it will take years to truly grade the performance of the players, there is some analysis that can go into it. The biggest thing is the eye test, just seeing which teams added the most talent and if the spot that they added said talent fits a need and value.

For Kiper Jr., he has a simple formula that he follows for his grades. He uses how much overall talent a team added based on board position for both the team and prospect, how effectively they addressed personnel voids on the roster and how efficient were they in maneuvering the draft board.

How did the Jets do based on Kiper Jr.’s criteria? He wasn’t overly fond of the Jets draft, as they finished in the bottom half of his rankings in the 23rd spot. Not many teams received lower grades than the B- that Kiper gave the Jets, as the lowest grade he handed out was a C, which four teams received. Here is what Kiper had to say about the Jets’ draft:

"It’s a symptom of the draft process that the same person could be excited about an FCS quarterback with barely a year and a half of starting experience drafted No. 2 overall — and for a boatload of picks! — and criticize the Jets for taking Christian Hackenberg at a reasonable value slot in Round 2. The reality is we just don’t know what either will become, but while I had Connor Cook rated higher, I don’t think the value range is too bad for Hackenberg if they feel he can be a starter. I think Hackenberg can get there, but he needs a lot of work with Chan Gailey. I think it’s an awful idea to throw him out there early.Elsewhere, I like this draft. The Jets got better at linebacker with Darron Lee, my No. 15 overall player taken at 20. Third-rounder Jordan Jenkins out-produced No. 9 overall pick Leonard Floyd at Georgia. Juston Burris is a good press corner who can contribute in this system. Brandon Shell is a talented project at tackle. Charon Peake is a guy I thought could go much earlier because of his physical skills, but if he’s healthy he has a chance to stick. The story of this draft might very well end up about the success or failure of Hackenberg, but in Round 2 it’s a decent bet to make."

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As Kiper mentions, how Hackenberg is the key to this class’ grade. How he is used and eventually turns out will truly determine the outcome, as the rest of this class represents some solid value and hitting of needs.

The linebacker position was one that the Jets needed to add an infusion of youth, talent and athleticism to and they did that. Lee is a sideline-to-sideline playmaker that can keep up with running backs out of the backfield and got good value with how the board played out. Pairing him with Jordan Jenkins gives the Jets two building blocks on the second level for years to come.

Juston Burris fits the profile for cornerbacks that Todd Bowles likes, and they have enough ahead of him that he can redshirt in some ways his rookie season to refine his fundamentals and learn the NFL game. Brandon Shell and Charone Peake both represent high upside picks as long as they continue to work and stay healthy.

Next: The Top-5 Quarterbacks In New York Jets' Franchise History

The Jets found two immediate starters in Lee and Jenkins in this draft, but the rest of the class will need some time to develop and reach their potential. If they can get Hackenberg to play as he was during his freshman season at Penn State, this grade for this class will improve exponentially.

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