Darnold becomes 6th straight 1st-round pick Jets have traded
By sending Sam Darnold to the Carolina Panthers on Monday, the New York Jets made the quarterback their sixth consecutive first-round pick to wind up traded.
Four years after drafting Darnold third overall, the Jets dealt away the former top prospect for a sixth-round pick in 2021, a second-rounder in 2022, and a fourth-rounder in 2022.
With Darnold gone, defensive tackle Quinnen Williams and left tackle Mekhi Becton are the team's only first-rounders still on the roster. Williams was selected third overall in 2019, while Becton went 11th overall the next year.
Jets' first-round picks: 2013-18
| Year | Player | Traded to |
|---|---|---|
| 2018 | Sam Darnold (QB) | Panthers |
| 2017 | Jamal Adams (S) | Seahawks |
| 2016 | Darron Lee (LB) | Chiefs |
| 2015 | Leonard Williams (DL) | Giants |
| 2014 | Calvin Pryor (S) | Browns |
| 2013 | Sheldon Richardson (DL) | Seahawks |
| 2013 | Dee Milner (CB) |
The Jets held two first-round picks in 2013, using the second one on Richardson after choosing Milner with the first. New York released Milner in 2016 before the end of his contract.
Defensive end Quinton Coples, the first-round pick before Milner, was also cut before his contract expired.
No player the Jets have drafted in Round 1 has received a second contract from the franchise since Muhammad Wilkerson. A 2011 draftee, Wilkerson enjoyed some bright moments in New York, but he was ultimately released in 2018.
The four first-rounders who preceded Wilkerson were cornerback Kyle Wilson, quarterback Mark Sanchez, tight end Dustin Keller, and edge rusher Vernon Gholston. Keller produced before injuries derailed his career, but the other three were disappointments. Prior to Gholston, the Jets hit a rare jackpot, nabbing eventual four-time All-Pro cornerback Darrelle Revis.
The Jets will get plenty of opportunities to right the ship over the next two drafts, as they're stocked with two first-round selections in both 2021 and 2022. They also hold three second-round picks and three third-round picks over the next two drafts.