New vice president Mike Tannenbaum took over the Miami Dolphins this offseason. Although this is his first NFL draft with the team, there is plenty of history to look back on with the New York Jets.
With that in mind, let’s grade Tannenbaum’s first draft with the Jets in 2006:
Round 1 (No. 4): OT D’Brickashaw Ferguson
Round 1 (No. 29): C Nick Mangold
Round 2 (No. 49): QB Kellen Clemens
Round 3 (No. 76): LB Anthony Schlegal
Round 3 (No. 97): DB Eric Smith
Round 4 (No. 103): WR Brad Smith
Round 4 (No. 117): RB Leon Washington
Round 5 (No. 150): TE Jason Pociask
Round 6 (No. 189): DB Drew Coleman
Round 7 (No. 220): DT Titus Adams
Analysis: The first draft included the most selections Tannenbaum had during his tenure in New York -- and he certainly took advantage. Ferguson and Mangold were two great picks in the first round and remain the foundation of the Jets' offensive line to this day. New York’s second-round pick, Kellen Clemens, never panned out to be the quarterback of the future Tannenbaum envisioned. So that was a miss. But Tannenbaum rebounded with some solid finds in the middle and late rounds. Eric Smith, Brad Smith and Leon Washington were all valuable contributors for the Jets during their run to back-to-back AFC title games in 2009 and 2010. Even Coleman, a sixth-round pick, spent five productive seasons in New York as a backup defensive back and special-teams player. Tannenbaum got off to a strong start with his first draft.
Walker’s grade: B-plus
