NFL network's Ian Rapoport has reported that the New York Jets are indeed looking to trade up in this year's NFL draft and their target is to move up from 18th overall to anywhere in the top 10. Rapoport is also told by his sources that they are very high on LSU wide receiver Odell Beckham in this same tweet.
Now first of all, this is a smokescreen in my estimation because Odell Beckham is seen as a reach in the top ten in this year's draft, and he may also be a bit of a reach as a top fifteen selection. In fact I would think that the Jets would actually be trading up for Texas A&M wide receiver Mike Evans, or North Carolina tight end Eric Ebron, both of whom are potential top 10-12 selections. So I for one would shoot down this rumor and dismiss it as it pertains to said trade being for Odell Beckham, which technically isn't what Rapoport said; only what he may have implied because it was in the same tweet, so I'm not accusing anyone of anything.
But I will say this; if in fact this potential move up would be intended for Odell Beckham--who by the way is actually a great fit for this team--then I believe it would be one of the dumber moves possible on draft day, even if Beckham emerges as the best wide receiver in this draft class, which I don't think will happen.
Despite Beckham being an ideal fit for the New York Jets and their underwhelming situation at wide receiver, Beckham may be available at eighteen, and even if he isn't, the Jets are also said to be pretty high on USC's Marqise Lee and Oregon State's Brandin Cooks; both of whom should be around when the Jets select at 18.
But let's say that Odell Beckham is their guy. I mean they really covet him and want to take no chances with him falling to 18, because after all he can possibly be selected as high as 10th overall to the Detroit Lions; albeit it's unlikely...
Why would you trade anywhere into the top ten for a guy that should be there around 13?
As a matter-of-fact; one could argue that Beckham wasn't even the number one receiver on his own team with Jarvis Landry being in the picture. In fact it really isn't too much of an argument by the numbers:
- Odell Beckham had 57 receptions for 1,117 receiving yards and 8 touchdowns.
- Jarvis Landry had 77 receptions for 1,193 receiving yards and 10 touchdowns.
"But Bryan, Odell Beckham also returns kicks and had a way better 40 time!"
So? He normally wasn't even covered by number one college corner-backs.
But Bryan! He played in the freakin' SEC conference!
Yes, yes he did: Spare me on the SEC stuff please. You know what other wide receivers stood out in the almighty SEC?
- Josh Reed
- Jabar Gaffney
- Robert Meachum
- Terrence Edwards
- Earl Bennett
Those were some of the greatest SEC wide receivers ever. Odell Beckham is not Julio Jones, he is not A.J. Green, and the one wide receiver in this draft worth trading up for; Sammy Watkins, he might be.
Odell Beckham could be a an All-Pro, and could fill a need for the New York Jets, but you don't trade into the top ten unless you're getting a Sammy Watkins type of consensus home-run caliber wide receiver, especially considering that Beckham is a reach from 10-13.
The Jets have visited with USC's Marqise Lee multiple times. Lee is likely to be available at 18 when the Jets select in round one.I think Beckham would be great for the Jets, and I'm a fan of his game, but is he really worth trading into the top 10 for if that's what the report is suggesting that they're even thinking about? Do you know how reckless this deal would be?
Look at some of the possible offers that the Jets may need to consider to trade up for Odell freakin' Beckham:
- Offer first rounder (18th) and 3rd rounder (80th)
- Offer first rounder (18th) and 2nd rounder (49th)
- Offer first rounder (18th) & a 2015 first rounder.
- Offer first rounder (18th), a fourth rounder, and a sixth rounder.
And Odell Beckham is worth any of these?
Personally I wouldn't even do this for Mike Evans or Eric Ebron.
Beckham should be available outside of the top 10, and as a matter-of-fact Oregon State's Brandin Cooks and USC's Marqise Lee--both Biletnikoff award winners--might prove to be better than Odell Beckham, and the Jets could very well sit at 18 and grab one of them, or possibly even move back a few spots and still get a wide receiver in which they like.
We have a phrase in New York in which we use that is three words and thirteen letters long and ends with; "outta here..."
This applies here...