2000 NFL draft day coverage

Quantity over quality

The Jets may have filled several holes with their first-round bounty, but they drafted nary a superstar on D-Day 2000

By Michael Lev, Senior editor
April 15, 2000

I wasn’t a fan of the trade when the Jets made it, and I’m still not sold on it today. Sure, the Jets may have filled three holes by drafting Tennessee DE Shaun Ellis, South Carolina DE-OLB John Abraham and West Virginia TE Anthony Becht. And sure, they now have their quarterback of the future in Marshall’s Chad Pennington. But do any of those players strike you as a superstar in the making? In Johnson, the Jets had a bona fide All-Pro – a former No. 1 overall pick who actually lived up to his advanced billing.

You don’t trade players like that; you build around them.

Instead, the Jets decided they couldn’t satisfy Johnson’s financial demands and dealt him to the Buccaneers. The Jets received picks Nos. 13 and 27, and they continued to maneuver after that, ending up with the 12^th, 13^th, 18^th and 27^th selections. Their choice at No. 12 was Ellis, who should become an instant starter at defensive end. Ellis was the second-best defensive end in this draft, but the drop-off from Penn State’s Courtney Brown to Ellis is bigger than a Manhattan skyscraper. Can Ellis catch fade patterns in the red zone, as Johnson did so expertly? I don’t think so.

At No. 13, the Jets continued to build a better defense, grabbing the speedy Abraham. Abraham should enhance the Jets’ pass rush, as either a defensive end or an outside linebacker in their 3-4 scheme. Some call him a poor man’s Jevon Kearse. But the key phrase there is "poor man’s." Abraham isn’t Jevon Kearse. He doesn’t have Kearse’s size, wingspan or playing strength. Just as Shaun Ellis is no Courtney Brown, John Abraham is no Jevon Kearse. Abraham is not a superstar. Johnson was for the Jets and will continue to be for the Bucs.

I like the Pennington pick based on where the Jets got him. The guy should have been a top-10 pick, so the Jets received very good value by getting him at No. 18. I would have LOVED the Pennington pick if the Jets were truly in rebuilding mode. Based on most recent Bill Parcells maneuvers, I thought the Jets were in win-it-now mode. Can you honestly tell me this team wouldn’t have contended in 2000 with a happy Keyshawn Johnson and a healthy Vinny Testaverde? The Jets scraped out an 8-8 record with Ray Lucas at quarterback last season. With several AFC East teams taking offseason hits (see Buffalo, Miami, New England), and the division-champion Colts facing a first-place schedule, the Jets could have made a serious run at the 2000 division title. (Remember: They had two first-round picks before trading Keyshawn.) Now they’re several steps behind the Colts, who made re-signing their superstar receiver, Marvin Harrison, an offseason priority.

The Colts realized the value of obtaining and keeping a core of superstars. The Jets chose quantity over quality. Anthony Becht? A nice, solid player, to be sure. But will he put a scare into opposing defenses? Will defensive coordinators stay up at night scheming against Becht as they did Johnson?

When the Johnson trade rumors first surfaced, I had one simple question: Who will take Johnson’s place as the Jets’ No. 1 receiver? Four first-round picks later, the Jets still haven’t provided an answer.

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