NFL Draft 2018- Impact of the New York Jets Trade
The New York Jets are going all in this year for their QB of the future. Recently, the New York Jets sent their 6th overall pick along with 37th pick, 49th pick and a 2019 second round pick to the Indianapolis Colts for the 3rd overall pick in the 2018 NFL Draft. In other words, the New York Jets have their eyes on a particular prospect and are ensuring they get him by trading multiple assets this year to secure their guy, presumably a QB.
Before we look at who the Jets might be targeting let’s take a closer look to how this trade compares to recent trades of similar stature:
2017
Texans trade 25th overall pick and 2018 first round pick to Browns for 12th overall pick to select QB DeShaun Watson
Chiefs trade 27th overall pick, 91st pick and 2018 first round pick to Bills for 10th overall pick to select QB Patrick Mahomes
2016
Rams trade 15th overall pick, 43rd pick, 45th pick, 76th pick, 2017 first round pick and 2017 third round pick to Titans for 1st overall pick, 113th pick and 177th pick to select QB Jared Goff
Eagles trade 8th overall pick, 77th pick, 100th pick, 2017 first round pick and 2018 second round pick to Browns for 2nd overall pick to select QB Carson Wentz
By the looks of the four trades mentioned above, there is a clear distinction between those trades and the trades New York made less than a week ago. The main distinction- all four teams moved up at least six spots to select their QB including three of the teams moving up more than 10 spots (Texans, Chiefs Rams) while the Jets moved up only three spots. So what does this mean for the New York Jets and the draft plans? It’s simple; the Jets knew their QB would not fall to them at 6 so they had no choice but to give up multiple high round picks in this year’s draft to secure their guy. Now since it’s pretty clear they will be targeting a QB, the three most likely to be still be on the board for New York are Josh Rosen from UCLA, Josh Allen from Wyoming and Baker Mayfield from Oklahoma.
As it stands right now the Jets have two veteran QBs currently on the roster in Josh McCown and newly signed Teddy Bridgewater which may impact who they draft. Out of the three QBs most likely to be on the board, assuming Sam Darnold from USC is the top pick, both Mayfield and Rosen are more pro ready to play in their rookie years while Allen is a more developmental project with higher upside. If the Jets truly want to draft the best QB on the board then Mayfield or Rosen should be their pick but if they intend to play Bridgewater or McCown this year, then maybe Allen is the choice. Right now it is hard for me to imagine either Mayfield or Rosen as a backup or even a third string QB but if they are the Jets pick, then why did they sign two veteran QBs? No one truly knows the Jets’ draft strategy expect for the Jets’ themselves but the more interesting part about this trade is the impact it will have on the rest of the draft order and where prospects potentially fall along with the looming questions about what the Giants plan to do at pick #2.
The other New York team, the Giants, now hold all the cards in the top 5 for a team who wants a QB considering the growing sense that they may intend to draft RB Saquon Barkley rather than their replacement for veteran QB Eli Manning. If that’s the case come draft night, the Giants could hold the pick for ransom and sell it to the highest bidder and knowing what the Jets gave up, teams will know the price will be high. Regardless of what the Giants do with their pick one thing is for certain, more talent will fall in the draft thanks to the Jets. Top prospects who are viewed as cant miss talent like pass rusher Bradley Chubb, offensive lineman Quenton Nelson and DB Minkah Fitzpatrick now go from being top 3-5 picks to potentially sliding outside the top 5, which is a blessing for teams like the Colts, Buccaneers and Bears. Needless to say the New York Jets trading up to the 3rd overall pick not only impacts their draft plans but the plans for every other team in need of a QB as well as other teams hoping that maybe, just maybe, their target will be their when it’s their turn to pick come draft.