The NFL Draft will commence tonight at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, TX and the Jets won't have a long wait until they're on the clock. The Green & White secured the No. 3 overall pick via a March 17th trade with the Colts in a move that many draft experts believe may result in a quarterback.
"It's all about opportunity. We felt good about where we were originally picking and we made the trade and we moved up a little bit to position ourselves, in our minds, to be in a good position to have a good option and a good choice at that spot," general manager Mike Maccagnan said this week. "When you go through this process, to be perfectly candid, you really focus on the job you have. You don't really try to put as much into context, because there is always pressure with every pick you make. It doesn't really matter what season you have. If anything, I think we are more excited about who we may have available at that spot when we pick. You really try to sort of block that out and just focus on the job at hand."
In addition to the No. 3 overall pick, the Jets, as it currently stands, will have five other selections in the NFL's 83rd Player Selection Meeting — one on Day 2 (No. 72) and five on Day 3 (No. 107, 157, 179 and 235).
"We've obviously spent a lot of time working on this draft class and there a lot of people involved with this process," Maccagnan said. "You don't always know about the people behind the scenes, but we have a really good group of coaches and scouts, and other staff members that put a lot of time into this. It's been a long year since we started this process and we're excited to see what happens here going forward."
The Jets will hold their annual Draft Party tonight at MetLife Stadium as fans will interact with current players, tour the locker room and watch the draft on the videoboards. Then on Saturday, the Green & White will announce three selections from the Intrepid Sea, Air & Museum, located on the Hudson River. In the fourth round, one patient at Goryeb Children's Hospital will announce the pick alongside Jets Legend Tony Richardson by way of a VGo Robot. The Green & White's fifth-round selection will be announced from Intrepid's flight deck by former crew member John Olivera, in celebration of the ship's 75th commissioning anniversary. Lastly, players and coaches from the Boomer Esiason Foundation's Empire Challenge high school all-star game will announce the sixth-round pick.
Peter King — MMQB — QB Josh Rosen (UCLA)
Could be Baker Mayfield, easily. And there have been times in this process when I was sure it would be Mayfield. But I give the Jets the surest QB thing in this draft, as long as you can live with the specter of his two documented concussions and all the noise (which I consider total bullcrap) about Rosen's life of other interests. The Jets need a player who can be suave, sophisticated and ready for Broadway, and this quarterback is as ready as any since Namath.— MMQB
Peter Schrager — NFLN — QB Baker Mayfield (Oklahoma)
Whether it was Mike Maccagnan spending the first day of free agency in Norman, Okla., back in March, or the glowing reports I got from the dinner the team's top brass had with him in Morristown, N.J., a few weeks ago -- there's been more than just smoke here. The Jets like Mayfield. A lot. And I see him -- Karate Kid headband and all -- being the first quarterback selected by Gang Green in the top 3 of the draft since Joe Namath in 1965.
Round 3: WR Antonio Callaway (Florida)
Curtis Conway — NFLN — QB Josh Rosen (UCLA)
The Jets need a rookie quarterback to play sooner than the rest of the league's QB-needy teams, and I think Rosen's mentally ready to take on the challenge.
Chad Reuter — NFLN — QB Baker Mayfield (Oklahoma)
The Jets apparently have great interest in the feisty, talented Mayfield. It's hard to blame them.
Round 3: K Daniel Carlson (Auburn)
Round 4: DT B.J. Hill (NC State)
Round 5: OT Desmond Harrison (West Georgia)
Round 6: OG Matthew Gono (Wesley)
Round 7: RB Akrum Wadley (Iowa)
Charles Davis — NFLN — QB Baker Mayfield (Oklahoma)
"Broadway Baker" rolls off the tongue well, but more importantly, his talents fit what the Jets need. He's a QB that believes, and will get his teammates to do the same. Josh Rosen has to be strongly considered in this spot, as well.
Rhett Lewis — NFLN — QB Josh Rosen (UCLA)
There's plenty of buzz for Baker Mayfield here, but if the Jets are comfortable with Rosen's durability, then how can you pass on a polished natural passer like Rosen, a guy my colleague Bucky Brooks has had as his No. 1 QB throughout the process?
