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          NFL Nation

          Leonard Williams highlights New York Jets' 2015 draft class

          • Rich Cimini, ESPN Staff WriterNov 17, 2015, 12:00 PM
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              Rich Cimini is a staff writer who covers the New York Jets and the NFL at ESPN. Rich has covered the Jets for over 30 years, joining ESPN in 2010. Rich also hosts the Flight Deck podcast. He previously was a beat writer for the New York Daily News and is a graduate of Syracuse University. You can follow him via Twitter @RichCimini.
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          The New York Jets had six selections in the 2015 draft. Here's a closer look at how their picks have contributed:

          2015 draft class:

          Starters: DE Leonard Williams (8 starts), WR Devin Smith (2 starts)

          On the cusp: In reality, Leonard Williams is the only true starter, as Devin Smith's two starts occurred when the Jets opened in three-receiver packages. His playing time has been sporadic, but he's a player to watch during the second half of the season. If he can stay healthy and get comfortable in the offense -- problems so far -- he could become a consistent contributor as the third or fourth receiver. The offense needs his speed, but he's raw and needs to be more aggressive. Lorenzo Mauldin won't crack the starting lineup anytime soon, but his role as a situational pass-rusher is expanding.

          Undrafted free agents they like: Only one undrafted rookie has played -- tight end Wes Saxton, who played one game and returned to the practice squad. He needs a lot of polish, but he has the skills to be a pass-catching tight end. He has the most upside of the undrafted players.

          My take on class: The Jets are still pinching themselves that Williams fell to them with the sixth pick. A Day 1 starter because of Sheldon Richardson's early-season suspension, Williams hasn't disappointed. He's a big, strong interior lineman with surprising athleticism. He gets caught out of position at times because he's still learning to read blocking schemes, but he can win one-on-one battles because of his power. He's not a dynamic pass-rusher (one sack), but he'll improve over time. Smith has developed slower than expected -- the one negative of the draft class. After a slow start, Mauldin is gaining momentum, flashing potential as an edge rusher. As expected, the bottom three picks haven't played. Grade: B-minus

          Mel Kiper’s take on class: I had Williams ranked as the No. 1 player in the draft, and I respect the Jets taking him even when Kevin White was available and many fans wanted them to select a WR. Williams has been as good as advertised. I think Smith will be good if he can stay healthy. The biggest question is can he become a bigger part of the offense and take on more routes?