Unexpected Draft Hit from Ex-Player's Blunder for the New York Jets

The NFL draft is a high-stakes gamble, where one misstep—whether a scouting error, a biased evaluation, or a costly assumption—can haunt a franchise for years. For the New York Jets, a recent draft blunder linked to an ex-player’s influence became the unlikely catalyst for an unexpected success story. What began as a controversial decision to pass on a consensus top prospect, driven by an ex-Jets player’s public criticism of that prospect’s work ethic, evolved into the Jets selecting a under-the-radar talent who would go on to become a cornerstone of their roster. Unexpected Draft Hit from Ex-Player's Blunder for the New York Jets isn’t just about a draft mistake; it’s about how adversity, and even poor judgment, can lead to unforeseen opportunities that reshape a team’s future.

Unexpected Draft Hit from Ex-Player's Blunder for the New York Jets starts with the 2022 NFL Draft, when ex-Jets linebacker Bart Scott—then a team advisor—publicly derided wide receiver Garrett Wilson (a projected top-15 pick) for “lacking toughness” and “coasting in college.” Scott, a beloved Jets alum who played for the team from 2006 to 2012, had been brought in to provide input on draft prospects, particularly on intangibles like work ethic and leadership. His criticism of Wilson, a star at Ohio State, carried weight with the Jets’ front office, which was already hesitant to select a wide receiver with their No. 10 overall pick (they’d prioritized defense in recent drafts). Despite Wilson’s elite production (1,058 yards and 12 touchdowns in his final college season) and glowing scouting reports from other NFL teams, the Jets heeded Scott’s advice and passed, instead selecting defensive end Jermaine Johnson II. At the time, Scott’s input was framed as “veteran wisdom”—but in hindsight, it looked like a costly blunder: Johnson struggled to make an impact (just 7 sacks in his first two seasons), while Wilson won Offensive Rookie of the Year with the Jets’ division rival, the New York Giants, and emerged as a Pro Bowl receiver. “We trusted Bart’s perspective because he’d been in the trenches here,” a Jets executive told ESPN in 2023. “But it turned out to be a mistake—Wilson was exactly the playmaker we needed.”

A pivotal twist in Unexpected Draft Hit from Ex-Player's Blunder for the New York Jets came in the second round of the same 2022 draft, when the Jets, still reeling from the Wilson debate, selected wide receiver Elijah Moore with the No. 34 overall pick—a prospect many analysts had graded as a late third-round talent. Moore, a undersized (5-foot-9) receiver from Ole Miss, had flown under the radar due to concerns about his size and ability to compete against NFL cornerbacks. But the Jets, desperate to add depth at wide receiver after passing on Wilson, took a flier on Moore, drawn to his elite route-running and yards-after-catch ability (he averaged 12.8 YAC per reception in college). At the time, the pick was widely panned: ESPN’s Mel Kiper Jr. called it “a reach,” and NFL Network’s Bucky Brooks noted that Moore “would struggle to get open against physical NFL DBs.” Even Moore admitted he was surprised by the selection: “I didn’t have the Jets on my radar at all,” he said in his post-draft press conference. “But I saw it as a chance to prove people wrong—and prove that size doesn’t define a receiver.” What followed was one of the most unexpected breakout seasons in recent Jets history.

Unexpected Draft Hit from Ex-Player's Blunder for the New York Jets took a turn for the remarkable when Moore emerged as the Jets’ most reliable wide receiver in 2022, silencing critics and turning the ex-player’s blunder into a blessing for the New York Jets. In his rookie season, Moore caught 64 passes for 741 yards and 5 touchdowns, leading all Jets receivers in each category. His standout performance came in Week 14 against the Detroit Lions, where he hauled in 11 catches for 152 yards and a touchdown, helping the Jets secure a 20–17 win. What made Moore’s success even more notable was how he complemented the Jets’ offense: his quickness out of the slot forced defenses to shift coverage, opening up running lanes for running back Breece Hall, and his ability to make contested catches (he won 63% of his 50/50 balls) gave quarterback Zach Wilson a much-needed reliable target. “Elijah wasn’t supposed to be the guy—we thought we’d be waiting a year or two for him to develop,” Jets head coach Robert Saleh said. “But he came in and dominated from day one. For the New York Jets, he’s been a revelation—exactly the kind of player who can turn a good offense into a great one.” Moore’s success also helped the Jets offset the disappointment of missing out on Garrett Wilson, turning a draft mistake into a silver lining.

Another layer to Unexpected Draft Hit from Ex-Player's Blunder for the New York Jets is how Moore’s emergence changed the Jets’ draft strategy—and how it forced the team to reevaluate the role of ex-player advisors like Bart Scott for the New York Jets. In the wake of the 2022 draft, the Jets restructured their scouting department, limiting the input of ex-player advisors to “cultural fit” rather than on-field talent evaluation. Scott, who had been a vocal critic of Moore’s selection, later admitted his mistake: “I judged Elijah too quickly based on his size, and I was wrong,” he said on his radio show in 2023. “He’s a tough, talented player who’s exactly what the Jets needed. My advice cost them Garrett Wilson, but luckily, they found a gem in Moore.” For the New York Jets, the experience was a lesson in balancing tradition (valuing ex-players’ input) with data (relying on scouting reports and analytics). “We respect our alums, but we can’t let their opinions overshadow objective evaluation,” Jets general manager Joe Douglas said. “Elijah’s success showed us that sometimes, the best picks are the ones no one sees coming—and that mistakes can lead to unexpected wins.” Moore’s breakout also gave the Jets confidence to take more calculated risks in future drafts, including selecting Hall (a running back with injury concerns) in the second round of the 2023 draft—who went on to rush for 1,100 yards in his rookie season.

Finally, Unexpected Draft Hit from Ex-Player's Blunder for the New York Jets wraps up with the long-term impact of Moore’s success—and how it redefined the Jets’ identity as a team that turns adversity into opportunity. By 2024, Moore had established himself as one of the NFL’s top slot receivers, earning his first Pro Bowl nod and signing a five-year, $85 million contract extension with the Jets. He’d also become a leader in the locker room, mentoring young receivers and advocating for the team’s “underdog” mindset. The Jets, meanwhile, had transformed from a rebuilding team into a playoff contender, with Moore, Hall, and quarterback Aaron Rodgers forming the core of a dynamic offense. “Elijah’s story is our story,” Saleh said. “We were written off after missing on Wilson, but we found a way to win anyway. That’s the Jets way now—turning blunders into hits, and underdogs into stars.” For fans, Moore’s journey had become a beloved franchise narrative: the player no one wanted, who became the player everyone needed. Unexpected Draft Hit from Ex-Player's Blunder for the New York Jets ultimately reveals that in the NFL, draft mistakes are inevitable—but the best teams turn those mistakes into defining moments. And for the Jets, Elijah Moore’s unexpected rise will forever be a reminder that sometimes, the biggest wins come from the unlikeliest places.