A Look At Quarterbacks Jets Drafted Since 1992
NEW YORK (CBSNewYork) -- We don't know if the Jets' decision to draft Penn State quarterback Christian Hackenberg in the second round will pan out or prove to be just the latest miss for a franchise that has been hunting for a franchise quarterback for decades.
What we do know is only two Jets QB draft choices since Joe Namath can be deemed remotely successful, and even they were flawed: Ken O'Brien (two Pro Bowls, but no playoff wins) and Chad Pennington (he did win a couple of playoff games, but he was injury prone).
Here is a look at the 12 most recent quarterbacks Gang Green drafted prior to taking Hackenberg on Friday and how they fared in New York.
2015 - BRYCE PETTY, BAYLOR (4th Round)
Petty didn't play a snap during his rookie year, but the Jets' decision to spend a high draft choice on Hackenberg is hardly a ringing endorsement for the Baylor product.
2014- TAJH BOYD, CLEMSON (6th Round)
Boyd didn't make the Jets' regular season roster in 2014 and is still trying to make his mark in the Canadian Football League. Enough said.
2013 - GENO SMITH, WEST VIRGINIA (2nd Round)
In three seasons, he has an 11-18 record and thrown 27 touchdowns and 35 interceptions. Coach Todd Bowles said over the weekend that Smith will enter OTAs as the Jets' starter, but Bowles and general manager Mike Maccagnan have made it clear they'd prefer to re-sign Ryan Fitzpatrick.
2011 - GREG McELROY, ALABAMA (7th Round)
McElroy threw just 31 passes in the NFL before announcing his retirement following the 2013 season.
2009 - MARK SANCHEZ, USC (1st Round)
On one hand, the QB formerly known as the "Sanchise" will be remembered for leading the Jets to back-to-back AFC championship games. On the other hand, he'll also be remembered for the "Butt Fumble." The bottom line is Sanchez was too inaccurate and turned the ball over too much. He's still in the NFL, though, and will battle rookie Paxton Lynch to be the starting QB for the defending champion Broncos this summer.
2008 - ERIK AINGE, TENNESSEE (5th Round)
Ainge never threw a pass in the NFL. He was suspended in 2008 for violating the NFL's steroids policy and then left the team before the 2010 to enter a drug rehab center.
2006 - KELLEN CLEMENS, OREGON (2nd Round)
Clemens got his chance to show what he could do in 2007 after Pennington was benched, but in eight starts, he completed just 52 percent of his passes, throwing five touchdowns and 10 interceptions. He has stuck around the NFL as a backup, though (currently with the San Diego Chargers.)
2003 - BROOKS BOLLINGER, WISCONSIN (6th Round)
He spent three seasons in New York and started nine games in 2005 after Pennington suffered a season-ending shoulder injury. How'd he do? He went 2-7 and then was traded to Minnesota the next season.
2000 - CHAD PENNINGTON, MARSHALL (1st Round)
He's widely regarded as the last truly competent quarterback the Jets drafted -- that was 16 years ago. He, however, didn't take over as the starter until 2002, and he missed significant time every odd-numbered year, mostly because of injuries. Pennington did lead the Jets to two playoff wins, including a 41-0 shellacking of Peyton Manning's Colts after the '02 season.
1997 - CHUCK CLEMENTS, HOUSTON (6th Round)
Clements lasted one season in the NFL. His career stat line: two rushing attempts for minus-3 yards. He later bounced around NFL training camps, NFL Europe, the CFL and the XFL.
1994 - GLENN FOLEY, BOSTON COLLEGE (7th Round)
Foley was a backup for five seasons with the Jets, but was 1-7 in games he started.
1992 - JEFF BLAKE, EAST CAROLINA (6th Round)
Blake passed for more than 21,000 yards and 134 touchdowns and was selected to a Pro Bowl -- but his success largely came with the Cincinnati Bengals. The Jets gave up on him after two years as a backup.