Offseason QB Upheavals Might Help Jets In Quest To Trade Down In Next Month’s Draft
This NFL offseason’s game of QB Musical Chairs has been so mesmerizing that it’s easy to overlook the fact that there are still quite a few teams who have been left standing.
Aaron Rodgers, Russell Wilson, and Deshaun Watson were the most prominent quarterbacks to change teams, while Tom Brady announced he would retire from the game only to return to the same chair in Tampa Bay a few weeks later.
Such an upheaval rarely happens, so there’s bound to be unforeseen consequences when it comes to NFL clubs’ internal evaluations at the game’s most important position. Whether you’re in the AFC that’s loaded with elite signal-callers or in an NFC that’s ripe for a breakout team that can upgrade at QB, now is the time to cement one down, or else it’s going to be a long year.
So why not draft one?
Pittsburgh is the only team that I’ve seen hint at the possibility that they’d secure their QB of the future in April’s first round, though they likely won’t be alone. Those that are being coy, like the Panthers, Giants and Falcons, SHOULD be looking for new quarterbacks with their first-round picks in their 5-through-8 slots. No one projects the QB-needy Texans taking one at No. 3, but it certainly wouldn’t be out of character for them to reach for one out of hubris.
As a Jets fan I say, the more the merrier. Boost the value of that No. 4 overall pick. Send every glowing scouting report on Liberty’s Malik Willis, who may or may not be rising on team’s draft boards, depending on your source, over to the Steelers with a note: “If you still hope to compete in a division with Joe Burrow, Lamar Jackson, and Watson this season, you can’t miss out on this guy.”
Heck, if the Steelers don’t trade up from 20 and there’s a run on QBs, they’re going to be stuck with a depth chart of Mitch Trubisky, Mason Rudolph, Dwayne Haskins, and lower-round Rookie X. Blech. Steelers fans are known for their rose-colored glasses, but there’s no way they can make a winning case out of that sorry group.
Getting back to the Jets, no one seems to have any idea about who they should select at 4. I think the last 10 mock drafts I’ve read had them taking 11 different players. Edge rusher Kayvon Thibodeaux (Oregon) has the skills and plays a premier position, but is he Head Coach Robert Saleh’s type of player, if he’s even still on the board? If not Thibodeaux, do they choose workout warrior Travon Walker (Georgia)? Is it too much of a reach to grab cornerback Ahmad “Sauce” Gardner (Cincinnati) at 4? Or either of the top two wide receivers, Drake London (USC) or Garrett Wilson (Ohio State)? Still, no? Is one of the tackles, Evan Neal (Alabama) or Ikem Ekwonu (NC State) at the top of their “best available” list, despite the heavy investments already made by General Manager Joe Douglas in their five offensive linemen? And heavens no, please don’t use the pick on a safety like Kyle Hamilton (Notre Dame).
My opinion hasn’t changed from a few months ago—when it comes to No. 4, the Jets’ best bet is to trade down and get more rolls of the dice.
Everyone has a different trade value points chart and they’re only a starting point anyway. Trading up for a quarterback has always come with a price premium—look at how the Giants got the Bears to pay way more than the chart called for when swapping 11 for 20 at last year’s Draft so Chicago could select QB Justin Fields.
Since Pittsburgh is also slotted at No. 20 in the first round, moving up to 4 just might be too expensive. Well, the Jets also have No. 10, thanks to Seattle’s overzealousness in their desire for safety Jamal Adams. If the Steelers are still interested, a similar deal (first-rounders in 2022 and 2023 plus a fourth and a fifth-rounder) could be on the table.
Fair value has always been whatever someone is willing to pay for the privilege. In a Draft pool that most experts said isn’t blessed with many top-level quarterbacks, the league’s offseason turbulence should have sent shock waves to QB-needy clubs, increasing the urgency enough that it might actually help the Jets extract more value for their top pick.