The draft is one part of the Jester's equation, they spent a great deal in Free Agency to put workable pieces in place around those draft picks people are now coveting. NE currently has one high priced Free Agent - Adalius Thomas - and a selection of budget conscious Free Agents to team with their "quantity" draft approach. What we've seen is NE has remained competitive for the post-season each year, while the Jests are hit and miss - mostly miss. If NE has a first round draft pick struggle with injury, it doesn't cripple them, if NY has a first round draft pick struggle - for whatever reason - that one investment costs them as much as nearly all of NE's investments for the past 3-4 seasons has cost them. Covet Revis and think what he'd do for NE's defense all you like, but let's not be blind to the balance sheet.
We enjoyed ridiculing him, but Tannenbaum has made some good moves:
1. Trading disgruntled John Abraham to Atlanta in 2006 for the 29th pick in the draft, used to draft center Nick Mangold, who is the anchor of their OL. Abraham was a top player, but wanted too much money. Sound familiar?
2. Going into the 2006 draft, the Jets had #4, 29 and 35. Tannenbaum drafted D'Brickashaw Ferguson at #4 and Nick Mangold at #29 to build his line, then traded #35 to Washington for #53 (used to draft Kellen Clemons, who didn't pan out as their QB of the future) and a 2007 2nd round pick which turned out to be #37). Sounds like something the Pats would do.
3. Going into the 2007 draft, the Jets had #25, 37 and #59. They traded #37 to Chicago for Thomas Jones and #63. They packaged #25 and #59 (and change) to move up for Darrell Revis. And they packaged #63, their 3rd round pick (#89) and change to move up to 46 for David Harris. All good moves. Sounds a bit like us packaging #52 and #75 in 2006 to move up to #36 for Chad Jackson, except that the Jets actually picked a good player to trade up for. Twice.
4. Going into the 2008 draft, the Jets had #6 and #36. They got Kris Jenkins for a 3rd and a 5th from Carolina to anchor their 3-4, traded up to #30 from 36 to get Dustin Keller, and got a 2009 2nd round pick for Jonathan Vilma, who no longer fit their defensive approach. All that was somewhat overshadowed by the Vernon Gholston pick at #6, which hasn't worked out so far.
Give them credit. They've gone from nowhere in 2006 to having a very competitive and talented team in 2009. No, they're not as deep as NE, they haven't been as savvy with the salary cap, they aren't as loaded for future drafts, and the odds are low that they will be able to stay competitive as long as NE. But they've done a good job, and right now it is paying off.