New York Jets’ Nick Mangold Named the Best 29th Pick in NFL Draft History
With the 2011 NFL Draft just days away, it’s as good a time as ever to look back at some of the cornerstones of the New York Jets who have come through the draft.
A few days ago, I thought back on Mark Sanchez’s draft day experience, when two years ago Monday the Jets traded up to take their franchise quarterback.
Today, I stumbled upon an article from the Associated Press, in which they ranked the best 1st-round draft picks pick-by-pick in NFL Draft history.
Jets All-Pro center Nick Mangold was ranked as their choice for the best 29th overall pick in NFL history. The Jets drafted Mangold out of the Ohio State University in 2006, and he has become a fixture in the Jets elite offensive line, as the team has reached the AFC Championship game each of the past two seasons.
Mangold is the best center in football, and in my opinion, the best offensive lineman in the NFL period. He’s also one of my favorite guys to follow on Twitter.
It’s no coincidence to me that the Jets turnaround from afterthoughts to perennial contenders started in 2006 when Mike Tannenbaum got the job as Jets GM and made D’Brickashaw Ferguson and Nick Mangold his first picks in the draft.
Mangold is an elite player, and embodies what it means to “play like a Jet!”
In the long history of the NFL Draft, many a commissioner has said “with the 29th overall pick in the [year] NFL Draft, the [team] selects…”
and no player has ever finished that sentence better than Nick Mangold. I’m glad he’s on our side.
