Note: On Thursday night, we'll have a live Q&A throughout the first round. Use #AskEA and fire away.
EA: Whether the Jets re-sign Ryan Fitzpatrick or not, this is a critical spring for Bryce Petty. The Jets liked his ceiling and Petty will benefit from basically a redshirt year in 2015. What GM Mike Maccagnan said last spring — time will tell what level of player Petty becomes — still holds true today. Petty has the physical ability to be starting-caliber quarterback when you consider his size, arm strength, work ethic and intelligence. The Jets thought he progressed well as he made the transition from Baylor's shotgun spread to Chan Gailey's pro-style attack. He'll be one to watch this spring and then we'll ultimately get a lot better feel for Petty during preseason action.
EA: Certainly. I think Mike Maccagnan approaches the draft with an open mind. If you need to do something, you are going to back yourself into a corner. The Jets enter draft weekend with six selections (single selections in Rounds 1-4 and a pair in Round 7) and I'm sure Maccagnan wouldn't mind adding to that along the way. Just because there are 32 first-round selections doesn't mean clubs have 32 first-round grades. Value is always the key on draft weekend. Typically you move back when you target a group of players and you are confident you will still be able to land one of them.
EA: Both. You have to start with best player available and then work need into it. When you reach, mistakes happen. Mike Maccagnan believes addressing need in pro free agency and that sets you up for BPA come draft weekend. His first draft selection – Leonard Williams (Round 1, No. 6 Overall) – set the tone.
EA: The Jets are currently in Phase One of their offseason program and I would imagine we'll have an update on Smith in the coming weeks. The Ohio State product, who battled injuries as a rookie, tore his ACL in December. While the stated goal is always to increase competition at every position, the Jets have to feel good about their WR unit heading into the weekend. Brandon Marshall and Eric Decker are a dynamite combo, Quincy Enunwa became a valuable hybrid for the Jets in Year 2 and Smith has an intriguing upside. Kenbrell Thompkins pitched in with 17 receptions in 2015 and there are a number of young receivers who would like to make their mark this spring. This WR draft class might not have great star power, but pundits I've talked to like the depth at the position. http://www.newyorkjets.com/videos/videos/Draft-Countdown-Ranking-the-Top-10-Wide-Receivers/629c084a-c974-4aaf-ba15-283754cdaa91
EA: I wouldn't say it's unlikely. I could envision realistic scenarios where either happens. "There will probably be players if they fall to a certain point if we think there's a chance to go up and get, we're open to that option too," said Mike Maccagnan during his pre-draft news conference. "On the other side of it, we're very much in the mindset if there's an opportunity to move back from 20 and pick up more picks we may do that also. That's going into the draft preparation, the same thing we did last year. We're literally calling the 19 teams in front of us and the 11 teams behind us to see where, well 12 teams technically. We're going through the whole process so we have options on draft day." EA: Most people agree that Jalen Ramsey is the total package. He almost assuredly will be a top 5 selection tomorrow night and you would have to pay a steep price to get up that high. Let's just say that would be a stunner.
EA: Excellent question. I haven't watched enough tape to make a selection. Both Jack Conklin and Leonard Floyd have things you can't teach. Conklin is an old-school mauler, a former walk-in who earned a scholarship and started 35 games at left tackle for Michigan State. Then you have Floyd, a prospect who has tremendous speed and explosion. He could become a versatile performer on the next level, a player who can not only get upfield but drop and cover tight ends as well.
