Rich Cimini, ESPN Staff Writer 6y

Jets' top-heavy draft class features safeties Jamal Adams, Marcus Maye

The New York Jets' 2017 draft class produced two day one starters and three backups this season. Two picks saw their seasons ruined by injuries, and another two were essentially "redshirted," which means it'll be easier to get a better feel for the entire class in 2018.

Grade: Above average

Best rookie: Safety Jamal Adams. Drafted sixth overall, the former LSU star won a starting spot in the spring and played the entire season, missing only 15 snaps. The Jets believe Adams has Pro-Bowl potential. So does Adams, who vowed on Twitter never to miss another Pro Bowl. He already is an impact player near the line of scrimmage (82 tackles, two sacks), but he must make more plays on the ball to become an elite safety. He had no interceptions and only one forced fumble. Fellow safety Marcus Maye, another day one starter, gets an honorable mention. It looks like he will end the Jets' second-round curse, which has haunted the franchise for nearly 40 years.

Most improved rookie: RB Elijah McGuire. The NFL is a long way from Louisiana-Lafayette, but the sixth-round pick made a successful transition, and he did so quickly. Third on the depth chart, McGuire rushed for 315 yards, a 3.6 average and one touchdown. One of the highlights of the season was his 69-yard touchdown run against the Jacksonville Jaguars, arguably the best defensive team in the league. He contributed in the passing game as well, finishing with 17 catches and a touchdown. He doesn't have elite traits, so he'll probably never be a No. 1 back, but he should have a solid career because of his versatility.

Most disappointing rookie: WR ArDarius Stewart. The Jets drafted him in the third round, thinking he could develop into a first-year starter. That didn't come close to happening, as Stewart was never able to crack the top three in the wide receiver rotation. He struggled to grasp the system, finishing with six catches for 82 yards. He's still learning how to be a professional, and part of that is being receptive to coaching. Fans might not want to hear this, but the Jets could've had Kareem Hunt with the Stewart pick. Ouch.

Jury is still out on: WR Chad Hansen. Early in the season, the fourth-round pick couldn't get on the field because he was stuck behind Jeremy Kerley. When Kerley was suspended (and eventually released), it opened the door for Hansen, who averaged 37 snaps per game over the final eight. Did he seize the opportunity? Yes and no. He showed enough to stay on the field, but he finished with only nine receptions for 94 yards. The coaching staff still believes he can develop into a starting-caliber player if he improves his separation ability.

Undrafted rookie evaluation: The Jets struck out in this area, as they had no undrafted rookies on the roster. They uncovered a gem in 2016, wide receiver Robby Anderson, but they weren't able to do it again in 2017. That's disappointing because the roster was in a transition year. There were ample opportunities for no-name players to emerge.

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