Draft Grade A Day: New York Jets

With the 2011 regular season freshly over it is time to go back and evaluate every team’s draft classes based on performance this year.  I will use a formula to grade each pick and calculuate a final grade for each team.  The New York Jets face the music on this beautiful February Thursday.

ROUND 1 – graded from a 0-5 scale
ROUND 2 – graded from a 0-4 scale
ROUND 3  – graded from a 0-3 scale
ROUND 4 – graded from a 0-2 scale
ROUND 5 – graded from a 0-1 scale
ROUND 6 & 7 – no scale, point awarded if player was productive
*I reserve the right to award a bonus point to any player who outperformed their draft position.*

FINAL GRADING SCALE

90-100 – A
80-89 -    B
70-79 -   C
60 -69 -   D
0-59 -       F

 

2011 Draft Class

Round 1:  Muhammad Wilkerson DE, Temple - 49 Tackles, 3 Sacks, 1 Forced Fumble
Analysis:
Wilkerson started all 16 games and played well for the Jets.  He is definitely the bright spot of this draft class.
Grade: 4.5/5

Round 3: Kenrick Ellis DT, Hampton – 7 Tackles
Analysis: Ellis appeared sparingly for the Jets and did little to prove worthy of a third round choice.
Grade: 0/3

Round 4: Bilail Powell RB, Louisville – 21 Rushing Yds, 1 Reception, 7 yds
Analysis:  This surprising pick for the Jets appeared in just two games and did next to nothing.
Grade: 0/2

Round 5: Jeremy Kerley WR, TCU – 29 Receptions, 314 Yds, 1 TD, 28 Rushing Yds, 41 Pass Yds
Analysis: Kerley was the second best pick in this draft showing promise as a receiver but also a bit of a jack of all trades, helping the team out as a return man and gadget play guy.
Grade: 1/1

Round 7: Greg McElroy QB, Alabama – No Stats
Analysis: McElroy never saw the field, but wasn’t expected to.
Grade: 0/0

Round 7: Scotty McKnight WR, Colorado – Released
Analysis:  The Jets mercilessly cut Scotty boy.
Grade: 0/0

TOTAL SCORE: 5.5 / 11
FINAL GRADE:   50 %  F

Analysis:  The Jets got one really good player in this draft.  Muhammad Wilkerson will be a long time starter at end for them and should develop into a upper echelon defender.  Jeremy Kerley also has promise but it’s unlikely he’ll develop into anything more than a no. 3 receiver/return man.  Kenrick Ellis was a disappointment in year one and there is still a chance he could be deported.  Maybe Bilail Powell takes over the running back reigns in a couple years but that is doubtful.  Overall there isn’t a lot of upside in this class, and the grade has low growth potential.