The 2015 NFL Draft is just a few days away, and there’s plenty of reason to be excited about the festivities in Chicago if you’re a New York Jets fan. Here’s our breakdown of everything Jets fans need to know heading into draft week.
Could the Jets trade up to draft Jameis Winston?
The New York Jets have made it clear that they’re ready to move on from Geno Smith at quarterback, and they really like Florida State’s Jameis Winston in the upcoming draft.
The Jets hold the No. 6 overall pick, but Winston will almost certainly end up going to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers with the top overall pick. However, ESPN’s Rich Cimini reports that New York is contemplating trading up in the draft to land Winston:
“There is virtually no chance Winston falls to the Jets, who own the sixth pick, but he’s highly regarded within the Jets’ organization. Aggressive general manager Mike Maccagnan hasn’t ruled out the possibility of trading up, sources said, although it’s unclear how high he’s willing to go or which player he’d be targeting. The cost to move to No. 1 or No. 2 will be enormous, but there’s a sense among teams in the top 10 that the Jets are a threat to move up.”
New York would have to give up several high draft picks in order to make this happen – Washington gave the Rams three first-round picks and a second-round pick to draft Robert Griffin III No. 2 overall, and it’ll probably take a bigger deal to convince the Bucs to give up their top selection.
Will the Jets draft Todd Gurley with the No. 6 overall pick?
One player the Jets are considering is electric Georgia Bulldogs running back Todd Gurley, who would have been a projected top-ten pick if he hadn’t been sidelined by an ACL tear in 2014. NFL Media analyst Daniel Jeremiah think the Jets are a prime contender to pick him in that range anyways, especially if Mariota is chosen before New York is on the clock.
“I think you can go way up the board,” Jeremiah said. “I look at a team like the Minnesota Vikings, if they decide to move on from Adrian Peterson, they’re at No. 11 and could make some sense. I think the New York Jets are a possible landing spot. There’s a lot of love around the league for Todd Gurley. They believe he’s a true impact, special talent.”
Is a trade for a veteran QB in the works?
According to the New York Daily News’ Gary Myers, New Orleans Saints quarterback Drew Brees and San Diego Chargers QB Philip Rivers could both possibly be used as trade bait to lure the Jets into giving up their #6 selection.
In Myers’ opinion, Rivers is the only of the two that he’d consider for such a deal:
What if the Saints offered Brees for the Jets’ pick? I don’t do it.
If the Jets are presented with a choice of Brees or Rivers for the No. 6 pick, here’s what I would do: Trade for Rivers. He’s three years younger. Rivers and Brady are the two most competitive quarterbacks in the league and Rivers would give the Jets a huge personality.
Rivers, 33, is scheduled to make $15.75 million in 2015 and is eligible for the franchise tag in 2016. Brees, 36, is due $38.5 million over the next two seasons.
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