New York Jets GM Mike Maccagnan has said leading up to the draft that he’s “open for business”, he finally put his money where his mouth is.

The New York Jets apparently weren’t satisfied with seven picks in the 2017 NFL Draft, so they instead traded down twice in the third round. They netted an additional two picks on Day 3. Overall, the Jets have a fourth round pick (125), a pair in the fifth round (150, 160), another pair in the sixth (191, 204) and one final pick in the seventh (224).

But were those the right trades?

Leading up to the draft, they had a few players on the block: Sheldon Richardson and Calvin Pryor. Now, after drafting two safeties, Pryor seems expendable — while Richardson, it seems, won’t be moved now unless it’s for future compensation.

According to multiple reports, Mike Maccagnan “refuses” to give Richardson away for pennies. Thanks, Mikey, I said this months ago in my piece, trade Richardson if the price is right.

Here’s the pulse of both of these trades. If Pryor won’t net a fourth-fifth round pick, I say keep him and use him in sub-packages. Plus injuries happen, Pryor would provide great depth and he’s financially affordable.

Richardson, I’m shooting for a minimum of a third round pick. Why? Because that’s what the Jets will get in compensatory ROI (return on investment).

2017 NFL Draft

Getting back to the NFL Draft and the Jets choosing to trade down twice. On the surface, great job. Collect more picks in a lottery filled with talented players. The problem is the Jets, by waiving their ability to select a certain player at a certain time cost them some premium talent: Tim Williams, OLB, Alabama.

Potentially it’ll cost them: Jake Butt (TE, Michigan), Joshua Dobbs (QB, Tennessee), or any top corner that’s going off the board every other pick.

Also, there was a lot of bickering on Twitter that the Jets didn’t follow the NFL Draft Value Chart. Here’s my take: up until this year, you couldn’t trade compensatory picks. So I’m optimistic the Jets get a fourth round pick, they previously didn’t have one thanks to the Brandon Shell trade.

Speaking of Shell, I would love for the Jets to garner some additional picks in next year’s draft. Maybe someone calls up the Jets and offers future thirds or more. The Jets should consider this. While the trades they’ve made so far, I’ll take Mac’s stance, I refuse to judge/grade until the 2017 NFL Draft is complete.

Once that happens, I can see the full draft pool for the Jets and see what positions they addressed and what positions they ignored.