Revisiting the Jets’ 2020 NFL Draft class | Sporting News

The 2020 NFL Draft was one of the most interesting drafts for the Jets and the league.

It was the first event the NFL hosted during the COVID-19 pandemic, Roger Goodell made the selections from his home and the players set up live video feeds from their homes and were all surrounded by their friends and family rather than attend a live draft.

The Jets had a top-15 pick for the fourth time in four years after New York finished the 2019 season with a 7-9 record. The Jets were primed to get another star in the first round after having one of the worst rosters in the NFL with one of the worst coaching staffs in the NFL.

This was general manager Joe Douglas’ first draft with the Jets after he joined the team in June the previous year. It was also Robert Saleh’s first draft since he became the head coach of the Jets.

New York used its picks to fill positions of need with the selections of OT Mekhi Becton, WR Denzel Mims, S Ashtyn Davis, DE Jabari Zuniga, RB La’Mical Perine, QB James Morgan, OT Cameron Clark, CB Bryce Hall and P Braden Mann.

Five years later, only one of those picks remains on the roster: Davis. Becton recently signed with the Eagles, while the rest of the class scattered throughout the league and landed on rosters or remain free agents.

What happened to this class?

Revisiting the Jets’ 2020 NFL Draft class

The Jets made nine selections in the 2020 NFL Draft. At the time, the picks made sense. But looking back, they don’t as much anymore.

Round 1, Pick No. 11: OT Mekhi Becton

The 2020 Draft was full of superstar potential and the Jets had an opportunity to use the No. 11 pick on the likes of receiver CeeDee Lamb, offensive tackle Tristan Wirfs, wide receiver Tee Higgins or running back Johnathan Taylor. Of yeah, and another receiver named Justin Jefferson. There were more studs in this first-round class, too.

But the Jets decided to skip on all those elite players to draft Becton out of Louisville in the first round. Becton dealt with injuries his first three years in the league and only played 31 games for the Jets after he missed the entire 2021 season. He also allowed a league-high 12 sacks in 2023. Becton signed a one-year deal with the Eagles the day after the 2024 NFL Draft.

Round 2, Pick No. 59: WR Denzel Mims

The Jets traded back 11 spots in the second round to draft a new “weapon” for quarterback Sam Darnold in wide receiver Denzel Mims out of Baylor. Mims played 30 games for the Jets and recorded 42 catches off 92 targets for 676 yards and zero touchdowns in three years with the team before the Jets traded Mims to the Lions before the 2023 season for a conditional sixth-round pick in 2025. The Jets also sent a conditional seventh-round pick.

Other players available at the pick — both the Jets’ original No. 48 and the No. 59 selection they ended up with — included cornerbacks Jaylon Johnson and Trevon Diggs, running backs Cam Akers and J.K. Dobbins, offensive tackle Ezra Cleveland and safety Jeremy Chinn.

Round 4, Pick No. 68: S Ashtyn Davis

The Jets finally struck gold — by their measure, anyway — by drafting safety Ashtyn Davis out of Cal. Davis emerged as a solid player on this Jets defense, so much so that he earned himself a contract extension with the Jets in 2024; the first safety drafted by the Jets to sign a contract extension with the team since Burgess Owens re-signed in 1975. Davis had a big year in 2023 with 23 tackles, one forced fumble, eight pass deflections and three interceptions — one of which came against Patrick Mahomes.

Jets’ final six picks of the 2020 NFL Draft

DE Jabari Zuniga: Played 11 games with the Jets and recorded just one sack. He was waived in 2022.

RB La’Mical Perine: Rushed 263 rushing yards on 72 carries and two touchdowns in two years with the Jets. He now plays for the Chiefs.

QB James Morgan: Never played a snap in the NFL and is now a free agent.

OT Cameron Clark: Forced to retire due to the risk of paralysis after suffering multiple injuries in his career.

CB Bryce Hall: A solid CB3 for the Jets for three years, where he recorded 122 tackles, two interceptions and 21 pass deflections. Hall signed a one-year deal worth $1.2M with the Buccaneers this offseason.

P Braden Mann: Punted for three seasons with the Jets. Led the NFL with 82 punts for 3,598 yards. Signed with the Eagles in 2023 and signed a two-year extension in 2024.