Every team is going into May 8th with some holes to fill, but not every team has 12 draft picks to do so.
You know who does? General manager John Idzik and his New York Jets.
Jets general manager John Idzik is building through the draft, which begins on May 8th.These New York Jets are coming off of a season in which they finished 8-8 after being expected to finish no better than 4-12. After losing several players in last year's free agency period, they now possess 12 draft picks at their disposal and will be selecting as follows:
- 18th overall (Round 1)
- 49th overall (Round 2)
- 80th overall (Round 3)
- 104th overall (Round 4)
- 115th overall (Round 4)
- 137th overall (Round 4) <compensatory selection, therefore cannot be traded>
- 154th overall (Round 5)
- 195th overall (Round 6)
- 209th overall (Round 6) <compensatory selection, therefore cannot be traded>
- 210th overall (Round 6) <compensatory selection, therefore cannot be traded>
- 213th overall (Round 6) <compensatory selection, therefore cannot be traded>
- 233rd overall (Round 7)
So basically the Jets have 12 draft picks, 8 of which are trade-able, and can select four, possibly even five of the top 100 players in this draft if they elect to stay put.
Now then, as it pertains to those holes to fill in which I alluded to earlier, this team is still lacking in some areas which can be addressed in this NFL Draft.
Currently it looks as is the Jets will go wide receiver or cornerback relatively early in the draft, perhaps back-to-back in rounds one and two. This team has also been looking for other options at safety, outside linebacker, quarterback, and offensive line.
I would say that at the moment their defense, which looks to be almost the exact same as last season which isn't a bad thing--I'll get to that momentarily--is just about complete. The starting defense today would be as follows:
- DE Muhammad Wilkerson
- DT Damon "Snacks" Harrison
- DE Sheldon Richardson
- OLB Calvin Pace
- MLB Demario Davis
- MLB David Harris
- OLB Quinton Coples
- CB Dee Milliner
- S Antonio Allen
- S Dawan Landry
- CB Dimitri Patterson
Why is this not a bad thing? Because 7 out of 11 players in this line-up is in their early to mid-twenties, including 5 of which whom are in their elite front seven. In this draft they will likely look to add primarily to their secondary while looking for another outside linebacker who can get to the quarterback.
What does their starting eleven on the offensive side of the ball look like?
Well I'm glad you asked!
- QB Geno Smith or Michael Vick
- HB Chris Ivory or Chris Johnson
- FB Tommy Bohanan
- WR Eric Decker
- WR Jeremy Kerley
- TE Jeff Cumberland
- LT D'Brickashaw Ferguson
- LG Brian Winters
- C Nick Mangold
- RG Willie Colon
- RT Breno Giacomini
Not as much youth on this side of the ball with Vick, Ferguson, Mangold, and Willie Colon all 30 or over, however no position on the offensive line would need to be addressed here in round one. What the Jets may be looking for to boost their offense may be a wide receiver, preferably in an early round, who can come in and contribute instantly, a tight end who can do the exact same, and offensive line depth which would ideally include guys who can start in 2015 and beyond.
So that's where these potential trades come into play, and sure John Idzik is not exactly a free-spirit when it comes to spending money on big money free agents, but he's made it abundantly clear that his intention is to build through the NFL draft; young cheap labor.
Here are some of the trades in which the New York Jets could pursue in order to help address their team needs and ultimately make them a playoff contender in 2014.
Note: I am not the inconsiderate guy who assumes that the other team will just accept the deal and abracadabra a trade has been made; these would be realistic offers that John Idzik and company can make with the possibility of them coming to fruition on draft day.
- The 80th overall selection (round 3), or any 4th and any 6th round selection to the Cincinnati Bengals for TE Jermaine Gresham.
I think this would be a solid trade for both teams. For the New York Jets you can add a proven pro bowl tight end to go along with Jeff Cumberland and the receivers already in place while saving 10 other draft picks, including another 5 in those same rounds combined. For the Cincinnati Bengals this deal can potentially allow Tyler Eifert, last year's first round pick at tight end, to fully emerge and come into his own, and the Bengals are a team who can use another early draft pick at their disposal, or two later round picks in which they could utilize for depth in other more needy areas such as defensive back. The Bengals could possibly land a 2nd round choice in this deal as opposed to a third, but a third or a fourth and a sixth may be the first offer on the table if this were to actually play itself out.
And it should.
- The 18th and 49th overall selections to the Cleveland Browns for selections 26 (round 1) and 35 (round 2).
Perhaps someone--like a Johnny Manziel or a Teddy Bridgewater for example--is free-falling down the draft board and the Browns, who also have the 4th overall pick in the draft but may use it on another position that isn't quarterback, would like to trade up in the first round to get this certain someone at the cost of moving back several spots in round two. Perhaps the New York Jets would like to move back and grab two first round talents late in the first round and early in the second round as opposed to selecting in the middle of both rounds. Sounds like a good deal to me.
The Browns could walk away with a top 4 player in the draft like a Khalil Mack or a Sammy Watkins--more on him later--and a quarterback they like in Manziel, Bridgewater, or whomever it may be, and the Jets could still land a top 5 wide receiver and a top 5 cornerback in this draft at 26 & 35 respectively; a Brandin Cooks & Jason Verrett combination perhaps, a combination that may not be possible with picks 18 & 49.
- The 49th or 80th overall selection for a solid NFL starting cornerback; such as Orlando Scandrick of the Dallas Cowboys.
The Jets could possibly even try to complete this deal with a fourth round selection but a third rounder here would more than likely get the job done. It's not just Scandrick in particular, but the New York Jets, despite having seven corner-backs on their roster, may think to deal for one this season as opposed to having another rookie come in in Dee Milliner fashion to begin the season. Now he seems to be on the right path but that's beside the point. It is my belief that someone will step-up and take a starting position at corner opposite of Milliner whether it's the newly signed Dimitri Patterson, the new waiver claim Johnny Patrick, a veteran slot machine--not really--in Kyle Wilson, or a potential training camp surprise such as Darrin Walls, someone has to step-up, don't they?
But anyhow the Jets may look to deal a day two selection for another legitimate starter because Dee Milliner isn't exactly Darrelle Revis at this point in his career either, and gang green has a gaping hole back there that needs to be filled. An early to mid-round pick for Scandrick, or a Keenan Lewis from New Orleans, or a William Gay from Pittsburgh could be just what the doctor ordered for New York. The beneficiary part for any team involved is possibly acquiring a day 2 selection and shedding a contract that can be used elsewhere.
- 18th, 49th, 2015 2nd round selection, and any day 3 selection to the St. Louis Rams for the number 2 overall selection, and any day 3 selection, possibly a late round swap.
Now if you've been here: https://fantasyknuckleheads.com/new-york-jets-sammy-watkins/ then you know exactly where I'm going with this. If not, then you may want to so you will then know why the New York Jets could and possibly already are considering moving up into the top 5.
But basically we're all well-aware of the Jets need for more help at wide receiver. So one way to address this issue is to deal for the best wide receiver in a draft class that may be the best group of wide receivers that this league has seen in quite some time; Sammy Watkins out of Clemson. Why in return would the St. Louis Rams make this move?
More draft picks, which organizations now are in love with more and more with each passing season, and the Rams would remain at 13 overall on top of acquiring all of the other picks from the Jets.
Sammy Watkins is believed to be the next great NFL wide receiver upon being selected.