1/30 in Jet History: Quite Possibly The Worst Jet Draft Ever
Jan 30, 2016 8:15:03 GMT -5
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Post by Lithfan on Jan 30, 2016 8:15:03 GMT -5
January 30, 1968
1968 was the second year of the combined AFL/NFL draft. The Jets were selecting 17th in the draft. The Top 15 picks were loaded -- 3 Hall of Famers and 8 pro bowlers went in the Top 15. The 3 HOFers were Ron Yary (#1 overall to Minnesota), Claude Humphrey (#3 to Atlanta) and Larry Csonka (#8 to Miami). With the 17th pick the Jets selected Lee White a running back out of Weber State. White would be active for just one game in the 1968 season, but get no touches. In 3 years with the Jets, he started just 6 games and rushed for 303 yards.
After White, the Class of 1968 would not get much better. Steve Thompson, the second round pick, would appear in 43 games as a defensive tackle over the course of 5 seasons for the Jets, starting just 7. In total, the Class of 1968 started just 48 games and appeared in 182, both lows for a Jet draft class through 2013. The 2014 and 2015 draft classes are likely to surpass those numbers as the classes mature.
Here it is. The New York Jets Draft Class of 68:
Of course, the 1968 season would end much better than it started, while the team may have lost the draft, they went on the win the Super Bowl with no help from their rookie class.
1968 was the second year of the combined AFL/NFL draft. The Jets were selecting 17th in the draft. The Top 15 picks were loaded -- 3 Hall of Famers and 8 pro bowlers went in the Top 15. The 3 HOFers were Ron Yary (#1 overall to Minnesota), Claude Humphrey (#3 to Atlanta) and Larry Csonka (#8 to Miami). With the 17th pick the Jets selected Lee White a running back out of Weber State. White would be active for just one game in the 1968 season, but get no touches. In 3 years with the Jets, he started just 6 games and rushed for 303 yards.
After White, the Class of 1968 would not get much better. Steve Thompson, the second round pick, would appear in 43 games as a defensive tackle over the course of 5 seasons for the Jets, starting just 7. In total, the Class of 1968 started just 48 games and appeared in 182, both lows for a Jet draft class through 2013. The 2014 and 2015 draft classes are likely to surpass those numbers as the classes mature.
Here it is. The New York Jets Draft Class of 68:
Of course, the 1968 season would end much better than it started, while the team may have lost the draft, they went on the win the Super Bowl with no help from their rookie class.