The New York Jets shook the NFL landscape with their blockbuster trade to the top of the 2018 NFL Draft.
The New York Jets weren’t willing to wait at six and see what happens. General manager Mike Maccagnan apparently saw a prospect he wanted and now went up to get him.
This is the first time in the Maccagnan era that he has traded up in the first round. However, according to ESPN Insider Rich Cimini, this is the fourth time in Jets history that the team has traded up to acquire a top 10 pick. We all remember the last time the Jets made this move was back in 2009 when the team traded up from 17 to 5 to select Mark Sanchez out of USC.
Just locked in ? @nyjets Senior Reporter @eallenjets for an interview on Monday at 11:30 am on @Manchild_Show on @TheScore1260 to talk all things #Jets AND THIS BLOCKBUSTER TRADE! Oh my lanta… #JetUp #nyj #NFLDraft pic.twitter.com/3lgIQcg8Ey
— Paul Andrew Esden Jr (@BoyGreen25) March 17, 2018
The Jets gave up a lot to make it happen this year:
- Sixth overall pick (first round)
- 37th overall pick (second round)
- 49th overall pick (second round)
- 2019 second round pick
For that package, the Jets received the No. 3 overall pick from the Indianapolis Colts. This is the highest pick the Jets have had since 1996 when the Jets took Keyshawn Johnson with the No. 1 pick out of USC.
The Jets have held the No. 3 pick three times in history:
- 1981: Freeman McNeil, running back, UCLA
- Freeman played his entire 12-year career with the green and white. Rushing for over 1,000 yards twice and also went to three Pro Bowls. Although arguably his career highlight was leading the league in rushing back in 1982. He is also a member of the Jets Ring of Honor.
- 1964: Matt Snell, running back, Ohio State
- The name should sound familiar. Snell was a key cog in the Jets lone Super Bowl championship. He was a three-time AFL All Star, a member of the Jets Ring of Honor, and was also the AFL Rookie of the Year. Snell also spent his entire nine-year career with Gang Green.
- 1963: Jerry Stovall, defensive back/punter, LSU
- Finally the Jets decided to get a two-way player from down in the Bayou. Sadly though despite being drafted to the AFL by the Jets, he opted to spend his nine-year career with the St. Louis Cardinals. In college he played running back but when he got to the pros he transitioned to the defensive side of the ball and contributed as a punter for St. Louis.
Although it doesn’t seem like the Jets traded up for a punter or running back in the 2018 NFL Draft. As great of a prospect as Saquon Barkley is and as successful as the green and white have been as it pertains to the No. 3 pick and running backs, that would be a fatal mistake.
This team desperately needs a franchise quarterback and fortunately there are several in this class who have earned that distinction from NFL draft analysts:
- Sam Darnold, quarterback, USC
- In team history the Jets have only selected one quarterback from USC (Mark Sanchez). The Jets have drafted 14 players all-time from USC.
- Josh Rosen, quarterback, UCLA
- The Jets have never drafted a quarterback out of UCLA. But the team has drafted nine players out of UCLA.
- Josh Allen, quarterback, Wyoming
- Gang Green has only selected two players out of Wyoming in history and neither of them were quarterbacks (Ryan Yarborough, 1994, wide receiver) and (Will Radosevich, 1964, tackle).
- Baker Mayfield, quarterback, Oklahoma
- The team has also never drafted a quarterback out of Oklahoma in history. But they have drafted 10 Sooners in history.
