Super Busts: Jets' Wasted Investment in 3 Players Drafted Before Chiefs' Patrick Mahomes
Not only did the New York Jets flippantly trade away Super Bowl hero Mecole Hardman, they have direct ties to three players drafted ahead of Kansas City Chiefs' three-time champion quarterback Patrick Mahomes.
In 2017 the Chiefs selected Mahomes 10th overall and he's rewarded them with one of the best starts to any career by any professional athlete. In six seasons as the starter, he has produced three Super Bowl wins, four Super Bowl appearances, six AFC Championship Games, three Super Bowl MVPs and two regular-season MVPs.
So what happened to the nine players drafted ahead of him?
A couple have enjoyed elite NFL careers, like newly christened 2023 Defensive Player of the Year Myles Garrett (1st) and 2023 rushing champion/dual-threat Christian McCaffrey (8th). Some have been mediocre, including running back Leonard Fournette (4th) and receiver Mike Williams (7th). Others have been outright busts: quarterback Mitchell Trubisky (2nd) and receiver John Ross (9th).
That leaves three players who were either drafted or signed by the Jets:
No. 3 - Solomon Thomas (Free agent)
Originally drafted by the 49ers out of Stanford, he's the second-biggest bust of the 2017 draft behind Trubisky. He was supposed to be a star pass-rusher in the same breath as Garrett, but recorded only four sacks in 48 games with San Francisco. After a stop with the Raiders, he signed as a rotational player with the Jets and this season recorded a career-high five sacks.
No. 5 - Corey Davis (Free agent)
Despite only 11 touchdown passes in four seasons with the Titans, the receiver signed a three-year, $38 million free-agent contract with the Jets in 2020. Injuries limited him to only 22 games in two seasons in New York before he retired.
No. 6 - Jamal Adams (Drafted)
Drafted by the Jets as the best safety in college at LSU, he made a couple of All-Pro teams and Pro Bowls before forcing his way out of New York with a trade in 2020. Injuries have limited him to just 34 games the past four seasons with the Seahawks.
