The New York Jets have acquired the No. 3 overall pick in the 2018 NFL Draft via a monster trade with the Indianapolis Colts.
Mike Maccagnan just made his move. After a week of crazy transactions via NFL free agency, the New York Jets general manager hakes a thunderous statement as it pertains to the future of his franchise.
As the team announced via its official Twitter account, the Jets now hold the No. 3 overall selection in next month’s NFL Draft after an executed trade on Saturday with the Indianapolis Colts. By moving up three slots from six to three, the Jets relent that sixth pick, the 37th overall selection, 49th and the team’s 2019 second-rounder.
We've acquired the No. 3 overall pick from the @Colts for our No. 6 overall pick, 37th overall pick, 49th overall pick and our 2019 2nd round pick. https://t.co/VtXr7bNuaQ
— New York Jets (@nyjets) March 17, 2018
While to many this feels like grand larceny on the part of Indy, the value does match up via Jimmy Johnson‘s famed early 1990s draft chart. Indy may have a slight advantage in points (per the value chart, but this is the price teams pay when moving up in the top five).
The Jets, who (luckily) missed out on the services of Kirk Cousins, are coming off a strong week of free agency that’s seen the depth chart improve in many different areas. The third pick guarantees them one of the top three players: Saquon Barkley, Josh Allen and Bradley Chubb.
While many believe Maccagnan is solely after a young QB, don’t rule out the opportunity Chubb represents. New York hasn’t possessed an edge rusher since John Abraham and he’s absolutely on the table at No. 3.
Giving up so much does suggest quarterback will be the play and now, with the third overall selection, the Jets could be in line to take the top QB in the pool (depending on what the Cleveland Browns do at No. 1). With the Giants at two and the Colts and three, the Browns could have taken Barkley at one and still drafted the first QB off the board at four. With the Jets at three, that strategy appears unlikely.
Will be it Josh Allen? Could they select Sam Darnold? Or do they love Baker Mayfield so much they don’t want to chance losing him?
We’ll find out soon.
