The 2019 NFL Draft is in the books

Jets Quinnen Williams Jersey , and the Jets have a fresh crop of six draft selections ready to enter the building. The question of who the Jets would be bringing in has been answered. From..."The 2019 NFL Draft is in the books, and the Jets have a fresh crop of six draft selections ready to enter the building. The question of who the Jets would be bringing in has been answered. From here on out, the question will be, “how much value did the Jets get out of their 2019 draft class?”How likely is it the Jets look back fondly on their 2019 class? I decided to take a look back at history, and figure out what it could tell us about the likelihood of each Jets draft pick panning out.QUINNEN WILLIAMS, ROUND 1, #3 OVERALLPrior to Quinnen Williams, there have been six players in Combine history who met the following criteria:Weighed 290+Ran a forty of <4.85Aged 22 or youngerDrafted in the top twelveThose players were J.J. Watt, Lane Johnson, Fletcher Cox, Trent Williams, Mario Williams, and Kevin Williams. Every member of that group has made at least two Pro Bowls. As a whole, they have combined for 28 Pro Bowls and 19 All-Pro appearances.In addition, Williams became just the third defensive linemen selected in the top three to have registered a broad jump length of at least 112” while weighing in at a minimum of 295 pounds. The other two were Mario Williams and Gerald McCoy, who have combined for 10 Pro Bowls and seven All-Pro appearances.We can keep going! Williams ran the forty in 4.83 seconds at 303 pounds. The only other player to do that and be selected in the top ten was Kevin Williams, who went on to earn six Pro Bowl appearances and five All-Pro appearances.The overall pool of players in Williams’ boat, in terms of draft position, is less promising. The likelihood of these players becoming elite is certainly strong, but far from guaranteed.From 2000-2014, 16 defensive linemen were picked in the top five. Half of them made at least one Pro Bowl, and six have made at least three. Six have been named a first-team All-Pro at least once, and only two have been named a first-team All-Pro at least three times.As you’ll learn throughout the rest of this post, those are actually staggeringly high odds of reaching stardom.JACHAI POLITE, ROUND 3, #68 OVERALLOn Day 2, most teams are still looking for players with star upside. Let’s take a look at the rates that a third round linebacker has hit certain levels of longevity, and the rates at which they appeared in Pro Bowls. 74 linebackers were taken in the third round from 2000-2014.44 have been a primary starter for at least one season (59%)34 have been a primary starter for at least two seasons (46%)29 have been a primary starter for at least three seasons (39%)23 have been a primary starter for at least four seasons (31%)16 have been a primary starter for at least five seasons (22%)5 have made at least one Pro Bowl (7%)3 have made multiple Pro Bowls (4%)This data helps put into perspective just how safe a top five pick can be relative to a selection throughout the rest of the draft. Seven of the 16 defensive linemen picked top five from 2000-14 made multiple Pro Bowls, or about 43.8%. That’s nearly eleven times higher than the amount of players to make multiple Pro Bowls out of the third round linebacker crop seen above.The Pro Bowl can be a popularity contest, but when it comes to longevity, the top five still looks impressive. 14 of the 16 top five defensive linemen have provided at least four seasons as a primary starter, or about 87.5%. While still not a guarantee, it’s a rate of success that appears tremendous when compared to the rest of the draft, as seen above.Back to Polite, there’s a nice history of elite third round pass rushers. Justin Houston, Cliff Avril, Charles Johnson, Justin Tuck, and Olivier Vernon were all third round selections.CHUMA EDOGA, ROUND 3, #92 OVERALL79 offensive linemen were taken in the third round from 2000-2014.64 have been a primary starter for at least one season (81%)51 have been a primary starter for at least two seasons (65%)46 have been a primary starter for at least three seasons (58%)39 have been a primary starter for at least four seasons (49%)32 have been a primary starter for at least five seasons (41%)11 have made at least one Pro Bowl (14%)6 have made multiple Pro Bowls (8%)It seems Edoga is part of a much more favorable pool than Polite. Third round offensive line selections have tended to have a much higher rate of success than third round linebacker selections.Interestingly enough, the #92 slot where the Jets took Edoga has a history of producing solid offensive line selections. Four offensive linemen were taken in the slot from 2001-2014 — Casey Rabach (2001, BAL), Shawn Lauvao (2010, CLE) Youth Quinnen Williams Jersey , Joe Barksdale (2011, OAK), and Trai Turner (2014, CAR). All four have had enjoyed at least five seasons as a primary starter.In 2018, the Steelers selected Chukwuma Okorafor at #92 overall. He spent most of the year as a backup, but found his way on to the field for a total of 155 snaps across 13 games. He even started a game at right tackle.TREVON WESCO, ROUND 4, #121 OVERALLAs we move into the Day 3 Jets selections, let’s change up the angle a bit. These players are probably not going to be counted upon to become long-term starters. Because of that, instead of looking at the likelihood they become starters or stars, we’ll take a look at their chances of longevity.30 tight ends were selected in the fourth round from 2000-2014. They’ve gone on to play an average of 69.2 games over 5.6 seasons in the league, an average of 12.3 per season. 12 of the 30 (40%) failed to play 40 games in the league. On the positive side, 9 of the 30 (30%) have played at least 80 games.Wesco was taken by the Jets for his blocking ability. The team is hoping he can thrive in that niche role for a long time. Fortunately for Wesco and the Jets, there has been a history of successful blocking tight ends taken in the fourth round.Seven fourth-round tight ends taken from 2000-2014 have been able to play at least 75 games in the league while averaging fewer than two touchdowns per season.Brandon Manumaleuna (selected 129th by the Rams in 2001. 158 career games, 10 seasons, 13 touchdowns)Justin Peelle (selected 103rd by the Chargers in 2002. 151 career games, 10 seasons, 12 touchdowns)Jacob Tamme (selected 127th by the Colts in 2008. 130 career games, nine seasons, 14 touchdowns)Luke Stocker (selected 104th by the Buccaneers in 2011. 99 career games, eight seasons, five touchdowns)Clay Harbor (selected 125th by the Eagles in 2010. 98 career games, seven seasons, eight touchdowns)Levine Toilolo (selected 133rd by the Falcons in 2013. 95 career games, six seasons, eight touchdowns)Dion Sims (selected 106th by the Dolphins in 2013. 78 career games, six seasons, nine touchdowns)It seems the Jets were not exactly trail blazers with their idea of going for a block-first tight end in the fourth. There’s a solid track record of success with that position in the fourth round.BLAKE CASHMAN, ROUND 5, #157 OVERALL72 linebackers were selected in the fifth round from 2000-2014. They’ve gone on to play an average of 46.2 games over 4.1 seasons in the league, an average of 11.3 per season. 39 of the 72 (54%) failed to play 40 games in the league. 23 of them (32%) couldn’t even hit 16 games. Six never played in a single game.However, an impressive 19 of the 72 (26%) have played at least 100 games.Similar to Wesco, Cashman was probably not selected by the Jets with “future star upside” in mind. They most likely envision him as a core special teams contributor right out of the gate, and potentially a quality long-term backup.There’s been a small dosage of fifth round linebackers to find long-term success as a special teams contributor. Tank Carder, Tim Shaw, Najee Goode, and Will Herring all played at least 75 games and five seasons in primarily special teams roles.If circumstances ever throw Cashman into the mix as a starter, there is a path of round five successes for him to follow. One of the best examples is a man who will be a teammate of Cashman’s this year, Avery Williamson, the 151st pick of the 2014 draft. Williamson, Brandon Marshall, Tahir Whitehead, and Telvin Smith are all forging successful starting careers in the current NFL after falling to the fifth round. Clark Haggans, Scott Fujita, Andra Davis Color Rush Quinnen Williams Jersey , Michael Boley, and Hunter Hillenmeyer are among the early-2000s fifth round success stories at linebacker.BLESSUAN AUSTIN, ROUND 6, #196 OVERALL109 defensive backs were selected in the sixth round from 2000-2014. They’ve gone on to play an average of 42.6 games over 3.7 seasons in the league, an average of 11.4 per season. 61 of the 109 (56%) failed to play 40 games in the league. 35 of them (32%) couldn’t hit 16 games. 16 never played in a single game.Only 13 players of the bunch (12%) have been a primary starter for more than one season. Just four (4%) have started for at least five seasons.By this point of the draft, success rates have dipped tremendously, but there are still success stories to be found. Justin Bethel, the 177th pick in the 2012 draft, made three Pro Bowls with the Cardinals as a special teams contributor. Hank Milligan, the 188th pick in the 2003 draft, also made a Pro Bowl as a special teams contributor, with the Chargers in 2005.Only two sixth round defensive backs have made a Pro Bowl at a starting defensive position. 2006 Colts draft pick Antoine Bethea, the 207th overall selection that year, is a three-time Pro Bowler as a safety. Yeremiah Bell, taken 213th by Miami in 2003, made a single Pro Bowl as a safety. He would start all 16 games in his lone season as a Jet in 2012.Scouting Jets running back Charcandrick West Last week, the Jets signed former Kansas City Chiefs running back Charcandrick West. Now we’re taking a look at what West brings to the table.The 27-year old West is listed as 5’10” and 205 pounds and was undrafted out of Alibene Christian in 2014. He has spent his entire career with the Chiefs, racking up 999 rushing yards, with 75 pass receptions and 12 total touchdowns. In 2017, he was used mostly as a third-down back as he rushed for just 72 yards but caught 27 passes.BackgroundWest was originally recruited to Louisiana Tech out of high school, but had to transfer to Alibene Christian during the summer after failing to meet the required academic standards in time.With the Wildcats, his role gradually increased over the course of his four-year career. He ended up with over 2,000 rushing yards and also had over 1,000 receiving yards with 30 total touchdowns. In his senior year, West set career highs in rushing yards (906), receptions (32), receiving yards (443) and total touchdowns (14).West was not invited to the scouting combine, but turned heads in his pro day workout and eventually signed with the Chiefs as an undrafted free agent after the 2014 NFL draft.While he didn’t make their roster initially in his rookie season, West was placed on the practice squad and added to the active roster in November, albeit only for special teams duties.In 2015, Jamaal Charles got injured and West eventually worked his way into the starting line-up, although he lost a key fumble in his first start. However, in his next three games as the lead back, he rushed for 110 yards and a touchdown against the Steelers, then 97 yards and a touchdown against the Lions and finally racked up 150 yards from scrimmage and two scores against Denver. The Chiefs won all three games and West ended up with a career-high 634 yards and four touchdowns on the ground, adding 87 yards and a touchdown in two playoff games.In the following season, West didn’t get as many chances to run the ball, but established himself as a productive third-down back by setting a career high with 28 receptions.Last year, West led the Chiefs in rushing in preseason, with most of his yards coming in a game against the Bengals where he rushed for 113 yards on seven carries. However, he only rushed for 72 yards in the regular season, again seeing more touches (27 receptions) as a pass catcher.The Chiefs released West after he was unable to suit up for their first two preseason games.Let’s look in more detail at what West brings to the table, based on in-depth research and film study.UsageWhile usually employed as a conventional running back, West has also taken snaps in the slot or out wide from time to time.He was originally recruited to Louisiana Tech as a cornerback, despite having played running back in high school New York Jets Jersey 2019 , but converted back to running back when he arrived at ACU.Measurables/AthleticismWest was a sprinter in high school, where he set a school record by running 10.34 in the 100 meters. He showcased that speed at his pro day when he ran a 4.27 in the 40-yard dash. However, that was reportedly wind-assisted, as he “only” ran 4.46 going the other way. The speed shows up on film as he has good burst and acceleration and can run away from defensive backs in the open field.West also posted outstanding explosiveness numbers with a 41-inch vertical and 130-inch broad jump. However, his agility and strength numbers were below average.Running AbilityWest has a direct running style. He makes decisive cuts, hits the hole at speed and shows patience in following his blocks. While he has the speed to get outside, West is at his best when he can cut upfield and make defenders miss at the second level.West cites Charles as his on-field mentor and he shows flashes of the same kind of abilities, especially in how he will set up defensive players as he changes direction.However, he’s only averaged 3.8 yards per carry in regular season action and 3.3 yards per carry in postseason action. He averaged six yards per carry in college and has also averaged six yards per carry in preseason action.While West is not very big, he can throw a stiff arm and shows some toughness in how he finishes his runs.Short YardageWest has seven rushing touchdowns in his career, but only one of those was from inside the three yard line. However, his lone postseason touchdown was also from the goal line.While he doesn’t have the size to move the pile, West has shown that he can jump over the top and has the initial quickness to hit a hole before it closes up.Receiving ThreatWest has been a productive pass receiver, although he has done most of his damage on dump-off passes. With his elusiveness in space he can be an effective playmaker in those situations.He has had some limited success in getting open on short passes, typically on out-breaking routes or over the middle.West dropped five passes in the 2015 season, but his hands have been a lot more consistent since then, with just one further drop.FumblesWest has only lost two fumbles in his career but they each came at the worst possible time.One, in his first career start, came with under five minutes to go and the Chiefs potentially driving for the game-winning score. The Vikings recovered and were able to run the clock out on a 16-10 win.His only other lost fumble was in the 2016 AFC divisional playoff with the Chiefs trailing 12-7 and driving just before halftime. They eventually lost 18-16.Each of these fumbles was somewhat wacky as the first one saw his teammate knock the ball out of his hands and the other saw him inexplicably lose the ball as he changed direction with nobody around him. The cold weather probably was a factor in that one.BlockingWest was called upon to pass protect a lot in college, so that was one of the things that scouts were impressed with in his draft film.At the NFL level, he’s been required to do this quite a lot since he has been primarily a third down back but has never been responsible for a sack. Due to his lack of size, he can be moved off his spot though and has given up some pressure, albeit at an acceptable rate.Special TeamsWest has played a lot on special teams since his rookie season, although he’s only been credited with three tackles in coverage. Special teams coach Dave Toub praised his contributions with the Chiefs, singling out his reliability in punt protection.West has some return experience as he racked up over 750 yards on kick-offs in college. However, he doesn’t have any experience returning punts. At the NFL level, he has returned two kicks in regular season action and three in a postseason game but only averaged 20.6 yards.InstinctsWest displays good vision and patience as a runner and has natural instincts once he gets out into the open field. He also does a good job of taking what the defense gives him rather than risking a big loss of yardage when plays are not well blocked.As a pass catcher he shows some ability to sit down in an open spot or get some separation to make himself a checkdown option.Attitude/DemeanorCoaches and teammates from West’s career talk in glowing terms about his character and he seems like the sort of player that is fun to root for. He’s been described as energetic, humble and unselfish.West has shown determination and toughness just to make it to the league after having to transfer in college and going undrafted. He also had to endure one of his close friends and mentors passing away and a mystery illness in high school, which was eventually diagnosed as juvenile rheumatoid arthritis and is now back under control. However, this adversity has made West a positive and driven person, who also does plenty of charitable work with children.West also brings that energy to the field, although he has committed six personal fouls in his career, so he can be somewhat over-exuberant. His only other penalty has been a false start.InjuriesWest has avoided any serious injury issues over the course of his career, but was dealing with a concussion before the Chiefs released him. That’s at least the third concussion of his pro career.Other than concussions, he missed two games in 2017 with flu and for personal reasons. He’s also had minor ankle, elbow and hamstring issues in the past.Scheme FitWest’s decisive style is perfect for Rick Dennison’s blocking scheme as many of his best highlights feature him cutting back on stretch/zone type plays.During his time with the Chiefs, he was a teammate of George Atkinson, Kevin Pierre-Louis and Neal Sterling.ConclusionsOn the face of it, the Jets probably just brought West in as a camp body so that they have someone to give the ball to in the final preseason game while all the players who are actually going to be on the roster are rested.However, his film is pretty impressive and he looks like the type of player who would be a good fit in the Jets’ system, although the concussions are a concern which might prevent teams from seeing him as a viable long-term option.While it seems unlikely he will oust the likes of Elijah McGuire or Trenton Cannon from roster contention, regardless of how well he performs in the last preseason game, this is a good opportunity for him to put some good things on film to potentially earn himself a job. He can also impress the Jets’ coaching staff so that he’s an option for them during the season when injuries inevitably strike.