Many fans are clamoring for the New York Jets to trade back in the NFL Draft. But I’m going to make the case for the opposite.

You probably aren’t going to make it very far into this post due to the narrative of a rebuilding team considering trading up. Heck, I’m not even sure if you even clicked the article. But if you did, thanks for giving me a chance.

So, why would the New York Jets trade up in the NFL Draft? Well, because of the “blue chip player” argument. This team is devoid of championship caliber talent to build around, which may seem obvious.

So how does that change?


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By going out and grabbing more of them — that’s how it can change. A sure-fire way to do that is by trading up in this year’s NFL Draft. And what do you know? There are, indeed, several prospects that could tickle the Jets fancy in this year’s NFL Draft.

In this scenario, we’re going for the No. 1 pick, so let’s go through the “Draft Trade Value Chart” to see what the points say. The Cleveland Browns first overall pick is worth 3,000 points on the scale. If you combine the value of all the Jets’ eight picks in this year’s class they’d have only, 2,479 points.

Obviously, the Jets wouldn’t give up all their picks even if Cleveland would agree. So let’s try to figure out how they would make up the difference. Enter Sheldon Richardson into the conversation.

Unfortunately, there’s no actual player draft value chart, which may work in the Jets’ favor here. The eye test tells you that Richardson is as talented as they come on paper, but he has some obvious red flags which somewhat denigrates his trade value.

People have said that the Jets are likely to get a 3rd-4th round pick for Richardson which equates his value to 265-112 points. The Jets would win two-fold. They could create some more cap space (which they seem in the mood for lately) and they’d be able to shed the problem child and get a promising young player in return in the building.

Next year’s picks aren’t locked in, but analysts are predicting the Jets to be terrible next year, which means gang green should be frugal in terms of giving up any future selections. But there’s a deal to be had here that won’t jeopardize the Jets future and can help this team in the present and the future.

If the Jets were to get this trade worked out, this is the player that I’d keep an eye on:

Myles Garrett, Texas A&M, DL/OLB

This guy is the real deal. Myles Garrett proved that at the NFL Scouting Combine.

  • 4.64 40 Yard NFL Dash
  • 33 Reps Of 225 Pounds (Bench Press)
  • 41 Inch Vertical
  • 128 Inch Broad Jump

He measured in at 6-foot-4, 272 pounds, 35 2/8 arms, 10 2/8 hands. This guy is a freak of nature both physically, athletically and mentally.

Trivia time! When’s the last time the Jets had a defender that opposing teams had to plan for?

via GIPHY

John Abraham for $500, Alex?

He spent the first six years of his career with the green and white and immediately made his presence felt as a threat to be a double-digit sack guy every year.

The great thing about having a pass rusher opposing offenses fear is that it forces the quarterback to force the ball out quicker, which helps out the secondary — a unit that is going to need all the help they can get in 2017-18.

Garrett is the projected first overall pick in this year’s draft. In expert’s mock drafts across the league, he’s been heralded as a “foundational piece” and a premiere pass rushing talent who can also play the run.



I talked about it earlier, a foundational piece equals a championship level player, it’s all the same verbiage. Could the Jets get a player of that caliber with the sixth pick? Maybe, but the higher you go up, your probability also increases.

Garrett is a one in a generation player. What does this regime have to lose? General manager Mike Maccagnan and head coach Todd Bowles are already reportedly on the hot seat already. Why not hitch your wagon to a player of this caliber?

If the Jets fell in love with one of the quarterbacks and had a franchise grade on him, then you have to do whatever it takes to get that guy in the building. They may face some media backlash at first, especially considering their recent history drafting quarterbacks, but at the end of the day, if that player hits, you’ll look like a genius.

So, the only trades that make sense is if they go for the bonafide superstar on defense or go for their franchise quarterback pick.

The Jets made a blockbuster trade several years ago going from pick 17 to five in the 2009 NFL Draft. The great thing about that trade was the trade value chart was thrown out the window. That deal included a ton of players to overcompensate for the lack of draft picks involved (only cost the Jets their first and second round picks in that 2009 NFL Draft).

While they don’t have an Eric Mangini there to help, there is a commonality because the Browns were the team they traded with eight years ago. Let’s see if the Jets and Browns can work their draft day trade magic once again

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