New York Jets: The ten plagues of the NFL Draft part I
Johnny “Lam” Jones
The Jets headed into the 1980 draft with the second overall pick. They were looking for a sheer speedster on the outside that could beat the coverage down field. Johnny “Lam” Jones was a world-class sprinter so he fit the bill. However it was a risk because in his college career with the University of Texas, he never caught more than 36 passes in a season, though he did average 18.9 yards per catch.
Jones’ sprinter speed fascinated the Jets and they decided to select him with the second overall pick and give him the first contract worth over one million dollars. Granted, he was able to beat any coverage down the field. However, the idea of catching the football got away from him a little. He never posted more than 43 receptions, 734 yards and four touchdowns. For the amount of money he signed for and for the draft position he was selected at, Jones is clearly one of the biggest plagues in franchise history.
He may have been the victim of bad coaching, he have been lacking the necessary talent or it may have been a combination of both. Whatever the answer was, Lam Jones was not it with the number two pick of the draft. Immediately following the Jets choice, the Bengals selected future legend Anthony Munoz, offensive tackle. If the Jets wanted to choose a wide receiver in that spot, they could have chosen Art Monk, future hall of famer. This was one of the bigger misses in franchise history.