2000 NFL draft day coverage

Who is going to stretch the field for the Jets?

By Ron Pollack, Editor-in-chief
April 15, 2000

With four picks in the first round the Jets had a ton of firepower. Given that those picks came between the 12th and 27th picks — meaning we aren't talking so-called sure-thing first rounders — it is tough to say if the Jets hit the jackpot with this avalanche of picks or not.

This much I can say: It seems like the Jets got good value with their selections. I especially like the fact that they took QB Chad Pennington. I was all set to second guess the Jets for not taking Pennington as Vinny Testaverde's down-the-road replacement with the 13th pick, but it turns out the Jets were very astute and got Pennington with the 18th pick.

Ignoring long-term considerations and merely thinking short term for the moment, I have to ask: Who the heck is going to scare opposing defenses in the passing game?

Keyshawn Johnson is gone. Wayne Chrebet is a solid move-the-chains player, especially on third down, but he is not a home-run hitter. On top of that, the Jets ignored the position with all four first-round picks.

Their choices may or may not pan out as time passes by, but I'm glad I don't have QB Vinny Testaverde's job during the upcoming season. I expect Testaverde's play to slip as a result. I expect Chrebet to have a harder time with more attention paid to him. RB Curtis Martin is also going to be really tested now that defenses figure to be able to load up on him.

In 2000, it looks like the Jets could be one of the most low-octane offenses in the NFL.

Jets fans will need to be patient with this draft because it has more of a long-term feel to it than anything else. That's not necessarily a criticism, but it is going to make watching the Jets offense in 2000 difficult to do.

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