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NFL rumors: At least 5 teams have called Jets to talk Sam Darnold trade

Updated 9:39 AM; Today 9:36 AM 
Sam Darnold

The New York Jets might trade quarterback Sam Darnold, the No. 3 pick overall in the 2018 NFL Draft.AP

 

New York Jets general manager Joe Douglas is a popular man these days, and there are two reasons why.

First is the fact that he owns the No. 2 pick overall in the 2021 NFL Draft.

Second is the fact that he might be looking to trade quarterback Sam Darnold.

SI’s Albert Breer has an update on both of those fronts, starting with Darnold, the No. 3 pick overall in the 2018 NFL Draft.

We told you last week four teams called the Jets, in the aftermath of the Stafford trade, to inquire on Sam Darnold’s availability. More have called since, I’m told, and the answer those teams got was the same that the ones calling before got—Check back with us soon. Right now, the Jets coaching staff is working through its tape evaluation of the draft-eligible quarterbacks, which is a huge piece to all of his. The job, for the Jets right now, is to compare and contrast what it has in Darnold (at 23, with a year plus an option year left on his contract) to what Zach Wilson, Justin Fields, or Trey Lance (coming on new/affordable rookie deals) could be for them. There are a lot of teams that would be obvious potential landing spots. Indianapolis, Pittsburgh, Chicago and San Francisco make sense, pending what happens with (Carson) Wentz, and the scarcity of available names (and I mean actually available, not just potentially available) right now could drive Darnold’s value up. Either way, it’s a good spot for Jets GM Joe Douglas and new coach Robert Saleh to be in. 

Of course, Douglas isn’t under any obligation to trade Darnold. In fact, he could roll the dice with Darnold, and look to shop the No. 2 pick overall in this year’s draft. Per Breer:

 

I think the Jets and Dolphins are in position to deal their Top 3 picks. That doesn’t mean either will (I think the Jets, for one, are more likely than not to stay put). It does mean that there will be a market for both the second and third picks. Teams will emerge from the Wentz situation with a quarterback. Others are quietly looking for an upgrade over who they already have, or for an heir to put behind an aging starter. I think because of all that, teams will look at 2 and 3 as potential places to get those things, and with four guys that I believe are seen as worthy of going in the Top 10, whoever gets there will have options.

Douglas already owns a pair of first-round picks this year (No. 2 and No. 23 overall) after trading All-Pro safety Jamal Adams to the Seattle Seahawks before the 2020 season.

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Who stays and who goes? 

 

Player Pos. 2020 Team 2021 Team Type Snaps Age Current APY Guarantees
Breshad Perriman WR Jets   UFA 65.8% 28 $6,500,000 $6,000,000
Brian Poole CB Jets   UFA 42.3% 29 $5,000,000 $4,500,000
Bradley McDougald S Jets   UFA 38.0% 31 $4,500,000 $5,500,000
Jordan Jenkins EDGE Jets   UFA 46.4% 27 $3,750,000 $3,250,000
Patrick Onwuasor LB Jets   UFA 0.0% 29 $2,000,000 $2,000,000
Neville Hewitt LB Jets   UFA 99.2% 28 $2,000,000 $1,000,000
Marcus Maye S Jets   UFA 99.9% 28 $1,638,503 $4,134,462
Joe Flacco QB Jets   UFA 25.3% 36 $1,500,000 $550,000
Matthias Farley S Jets   UFA 17.5% 29 $1,290,000 $0
Frank Gore RB Jets   UFA 38.4% 38 $1,050,000 $200,000
Daniel Brown TE Jets   UFA 2.8% 29 $960,000 $0
Pat Elflein RG Jets   UFA 41.9% 27 $936,960 $936,840
Josh Andrews C Jets   UFA 31.4% 30 $910,000 $0
Bryce Hager LB Jets   UFA 12.0% 29 $910,000 $0
Arthur Maulet CB Jets   UFA 35.5% 28 $875,000 $175,000
Trevon Coley DT Jets   UFA 17.3% 27 $825,000 $0
Ross Travis TE Jets   UFA 0.3% 28 $825,000 $0
Tarell Basham EDGE Jets   UFA 64.4% 27 $808,878 $835,856
Frankie Luvu LB Jets   RFA 22.6% 25 $750,000 $0
Josh Adams RB Jets   RFA 7.6% 25 $750,000 $0
Bennett Jackson CB Jets   UFA 0.0% 30 $675,000 $0
Vyncint Smith WR Jets   RFA 5.1% 25 $615,000 $0
Harvey Langi LB Jets   RFA 45.0% 29 $615,000 $0
Kyron Brown CB Jets   ERFA 0.0% 25 $540,000 $0
Jeff Smith WR Jets   ERFA 32.2% 24 $540,000 $0
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2021 NFL Draft: Early Jets 7-round mock

By
 Ryan Honey
 - 
 02/15/2021
Jets-Mock-Draft-header-681x554.jpg

The New York Jets possess an abundance of selections in the upcoming 2021 NFL Draft. Who may they acquire?

Ryan Honey

Soon enough, we’ll be able to hear the treasured phrase, “The pick is in.” The 2021 NFL Draft begins on Thursday, April 29, and thanks to a number of trades with different teams, the New York Jets will have their name pop up ten times.

That’s right. Coming off a 10th straight season without a playoff appearance, the Jets possess ten selections in the annual event and will be looking to land the right talent in order to develop towards a postseason berth, one that hopefully arrives sooner than later.

Jets-mock-draft-288x400.jpg

There are numerous positions and roles the Jets must target while utilizing said draft choices, meaning general manager Joe Douglas and his staff will need to meticulously make the right decisions in the evaluation process.

Who could the Jets ultimately acquire ahead of the 2021 campaign?

Let’s take a look at our first Jets mock draft of the new offseason.

1st round (No. 2 overall) — Zach Wilson, QB, BYU

The Jets don’t 100% need to go with a quarterback at No. 2 and could roll the dice with Sam Darnold while building around the soon-to-be fourth-year player. Nonetheless, drafting Zach Wilson and starting fresh with the star BYU quarterback will likely be the move if the Jets keep this valuable selection.

Last season, Wilson proved to be careful with the ball, recording a 73.5% completion rate with just three interceptions. He combined for 3,692 passing yards and 33 touchdowns in 12 games.

He’s additionally athletic and can use his feet, having rushed for 254 yards on a 3.6 yards-per-carry rate with 10 touchdowns this past year.

Wilson will need to develop, but that’s fine. Any rookie quarterback does, even the eventual stars. But given his talent and versatility, the Jets will likely choose to go with him instead of risking another down year from Darnold.

1st round (No. 21 overall via Colts) — Terrace Marshall Jr., WR, LSU

The Jets need offensive weapons after ranking last in both total offense and scoring and 31st in passing. Zach Wilson will also need a talented passing-game target to work with, and that’s where Terrace Marshall Jr. comes in at No. 21, a pick provided to the Jets after sending Darnold and a 2021 third-round pick (No. 66 overall) to Indianapolis.

The LSU Tiger would bring height to the receiving corps at 6-foot-3. On the field, Marshall carries a knack for the end zone, having combined for 23 touchdown receptions over the last two years. This would be a benefit to a Jets team that threw just 16 touchdown passes all of last season.

Marshall caught 48 balls for 731 yards and 10 touchdowns last year, a season that included opponents such as Missouri, Auburn, and Texas A&M.

1st round (No. 23 overall) — Jaycee Horn, CB, South Carolina

Given the number of contracts that are expiring in and around the Jets defensive backfield, New York may need a new starting cornerback for 2021 and beyond.

Enter: Jaycee Horn at No. 23.

Horn can be physical, having combined for 85 tackles from 2018-19 (23 games). He additionally notched 23 pass breakups in 30 total collegiate matchups.

The 21-year-old could develop into a long-term starter especially if Brian Pooledoesn’t remain in Florham Park. And if he doesn’t start right away, that’s fine. It’s still useful to employ depth in the defensive backfield.

2nd round (No. 34 overall) — Quincy Roche, EDGE, Miami (FL)

The Jets will require a young edge rusher to fill a void if Jordan Jenkins and Tarell Basham both depart. New York additionally just needs general help at that position, considering the team combined for 31 sacks last season (tied for 20th in the NFL).

Quincy Roche racked up 4.5 sacks for Miami last year but recorded 13 while with Temple in 2019. His 30.5 sacks across 45 collegiate games translate to 10.8 per 16 games.

Roche’s efforts earned him the AAC Defensive Player of the Year Award and a spot on the All-AAC first team in 2019. He was a third-team All-ACC selection in 2020 and would probably find decent playing time with the Jets right away.

3rd round (No. 87 overall) — Rhamondre Stevenson, RB, Oklahoma

With the lingering uncertainty regarding La’Mical Perine‘s ability to be a true No. 1 back, the Jets will likely utilize a running back committee.

The team could use someone bigger than Perine (216 pounds), and Oklahoma’s Rhamondre Stevenson (247 pounds) fulfills that requirement.

Stevenson underwent a productive 2020 at Oklahoma; he averaged 110.8 rushing yards per game with seven touchdowns to go along with 18 catches and 211 yards through the air.

He could be a multi-purpose back and wouldn’t assume overwhelming responsibility given the other backs currently present on the Jets roster.

4th round (No. 98 overall) — Garret Wallow, LB, TCU

Hopefully Neville Hewitt returns on a new deal and the Jets get C.J. Mosley back after he opted out of the 2020 season due to coronavirus concerns. But regardless, it’s beneficial to employ depth at the inside linebacker position, and in the fourth round, the Jets could address that need with the selection of TCU’s Garret Wallow.

The Horned Frog is a tackling machine. He racked up 295 total tackles in 40 career collegiate games (7.4 per game) and ultimately recorded 125 total tackles (77 solo), 18 tackles for loss, and 3.5 sacks through 12 games in 2019.

The Jets could initially utilize him as a situational linebacker, and he may possess knowledgeable professionals in Hewitt and Mosley to learn from moving forward.

For what it’s worth, Wallow was a two-time All-Big 12 first team selection (2019 and 2020), two-time Honorable-Mention Big 12 Defensive Player of the Year (2019 and 2020), and an Honorable-Mention All-American in 2019.

5th round (No. 130 overall) — Josh Ball, OT, Marshall

The Jets could use a reserve tackle, and a selection focusing on the offensive line would be beneficial just in case Mekhi Becton and/or George Fant suffers an injury.

Marshall’s Josh Ball sports fantastic size at 6-foot-8, 309 pounds, and the height is surely an advantage.

On The Draft Network, Ball is the 18th-ranked offensive tackle prospect.

5th round (No. 138 overall) — Caden Sterns, S, Texas

You can never possess enough depth in the defensive backfield, as we say all the time. That’s especially the case with multiple expiring contracts in the Jets secondary.

In the fifth round, the Jets could snag a young safety and utilize him as a situational defensive back, and if he efficiently develops, his role could expand down the line.

Texas’ Caden Sterns is a physical safety who notched 173 total tackles through 29 games at the collegiate level (six tackles per game). His 62 total tackles, four interceptions, and four pass breakups in 2018 led to him receiving the Big 12 Defensive Freshman of the Year Award and a first-team All-Big 12 selection.

6th round (No. 162 overall) — Bryce Thompson, CB, Tennessee

It’s the “never enough depth” concept, coming to you live once again in the sixth round.

While Bryce Thompson doesn’t have outstanding size (6-foot, 180 pounds), he was semi-productive for the Volunteers, having notched eight interceptions and 100 total tackles through 31 collegiate games.

Given his late-round status, Thompson doesn’t need to be a star in the NFL but could be a reserve cornerback for the Jets who finds playing time in certain on-field scenarios.

7th round (No. 215 overall) — Brandon Smith, WR, Iowa

Add one more offensive weapon, why not? Again, the team was at the bottom of the league (or at least near the bottom) in a multitude of offensive categories. And with a new rookie quarterback, you might as well stock up on potential passing-game targets.

Brandon Smith brings favorable size at 6-foot-2, 218 pounds and gained 1,031 combined yards through the air over the last three seasons (26 games) with the Hawkeyes.

He wasn’t entirely productive, but that’s why he could still be on the board in the later rounds. Not to mention, him going up against pro-like competition in college is a plus. In 2020, Smith and Iowa faced the likes of Northwestern, Penn State, and Wisconsin in the Big Ten.

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NFL Draft 2021: Jets dump Sam Darnold, pick new QB at No. 2 in NFL Network’s Daniel Jeremiah’s latest 1st-round mock

Updated 11:23 AM; Today 11:15 AM 
NFL Draft Quarterbacks

Left-right: Clemson's Trevor Lawrence, BYU's Zach Wilson, Ohio State's Justin Fields, North Dakota State's Trey Lance could be the top four picks in the 2021 NFL Draft.

 

NFL Network draft guru Daniel Jeremiah released his new first-round mock draft on Tuesday.

Like virtually every mock under the sun, Jeremiah projects the Jacksonville Jaguars will use the No. 1 pick overall on Clemson quarterback Trevor Lawerence.

Which brings us to the New York Jets at No. 2. Assuming he doesn’t trade it away (either for Houston Texans quarterback Deshaun Watson or to move down the draft board to collect future picks), Jets general manager Joe Douglas can do one of two things. He can use the pick to select the team’s new franchise quarterback and cut his losses with Sam Darnold. Or Douglas can keep Darnold and build around him by using the No. 2 pick to find help at wide receiver or offensive line.

Jeremiah thinks Douglas will keep the pick, and use it to select the team’s QB of the future: BYU’s Zach Wilson.

 

The Jets have a lot of options here, but I think the decision ultimately comes down to Wilson versus Sam Darnold. With a new head coach, they decide to start fresh at quarterback.

 

Jeremiah has Ohio State’s Justin Fields falling to the Atlanta Falcons at No. 4 and Trey Lance going to the Carolina Panthersat No. 8.

 

Jeremiah predicts the Jets will use their other first-round pick, No. 23 overall (from the Jamal Adams trade with the Seattle Seahawks), on Oklahoma edge rusher Ronnie Perkins.

 

Jeremiah believes the New Orleans Saints will find Drew Brees’ replacement at No. 28 when they pick Alabama quarterback Mac Jones.

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NFL rumors: Jets might want to keep Sam Darnold and build around him, ex-GM and N.J. native says

Updated 6:56 AM; Today 6:55 AM 
New York Jets defeat Cleveland Browns, Dec., 27, 2020

The New York Jets might trade quarterback Sam Darnold, the No. 3 pick overall in the 2018 NFL Draft.Andrew Mills | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com

 

The New York Jets are getting calls on Sam Darnold, but former NFL general manager Michael Lombardi isn’t sold on shipping out the 23-year-old quarterback.

Lombardi, an Ocean City, N.J. native, knows a thing or two about building winners, after working alongside some of the game’s greats, including Al Davis on the Oakland Raiders, Bill Walsh on the San Francisco 49ers and Bill Belichick on the Cleveland Browns and New England Patriots.

Lombardi joined WFAN on Tuesday to talk about the options Jets GM Joe Douglas faces. Specifically, should Douglas use the No. 2 pick overall on a quarterback or keep the pick and build around Darnold, the No. 3 pick overall in the 2018 NFL Draft?

 

“I think what you do is you put Sam in this draft, and ask yourself: is Sam is better than Justin Fields or Zach Wilson? He’s not newer, but is he better? Because newer doesn’t mean it solves the problem. ... Would they be better off holding Sam and drafting the tackle out of Oregon (Penei Sewell), and having two dominant tackles to determine how they run and pass protect? That makes a big difference – just ask Kansas City. One thing we learned from the Super Bowl is that it doesn’t matter how great your quarterback is, or how great your wide receivers are; if you can’t block, it doesn’t matter, and if you can’t pass protect, you can’t get the ball off.”

Aside from the No. 2 pick overall in the 2021 NFL Draft, Douglas will have a ton of cap space with which to work, meaning the Jets could be serious players in free agency. But again, Lombardi warns that money can’t solve all the problems.

 

“It takes more than one player. This is what’s going on in Dallas – if they want to have Dak Prescott have a $39 million cap number and take the franchise tag, just watch the Vikings and see what happened with Kirk Cousins. You can have all the money, but you have to work with me so we can spread it out and have a good team around you. If you take a huge cap number, there won’t be a good team around you and we won’t win anything, so what’s the point?”

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1 minute ago, joewilly12 said:

NFL rumors: Jets might want to keep Sam Darnold and build around him, ex-GM and N.J. native says

Updated 6:56 AM; Today 6:55 AM 
New York Jets defeat Cleveland Browns, Dec., 27, 2020

The New York Jets might trade quarterback Sam Darnold, the No. 3 pick overall in the 2018 NFL Draft.Andrew Mills | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com

 

The New York Jets are getting calls on Sam Darnold, but former NFL general manager Michael Lombardi isn’t sold on shipping out the 23-year-old quarterback.

Lombardi, an Ocean City, N.J. native, knows a thing or two about building winners, after working alongside some of the game’s greats, including Al Davis on the Oakland Raiders, Bill Walsh on the San Francisco 49ers and Bill Belichick on the Cleveland Browns and New England Patriots.

Lombardi joined WFAN on Tuesday to talk about the options Jets GM Joe Douglas faces. Specifically, should Douglas use the No. 2 pick overall on a quarterback or keep the pick and build around Darnold, the No. 3 pick overall in the 2018 NFL Draft?

 

“I think what you do is you put Sam in this draft, and ask yourself: is Sam is better than Justin Fields or Zach Wilson? He’s not newer, but is he better? Because newer doesn’t mean it solves the problem. ... Would they be better off holding Sam and drafting the tackle out of Oregon (Penei Sewell), and having two dominant tackles to determine how they run and pass protect? That makes a big difference – just ask Kansas City. One thing we learned from the Super Bowl is that it doesn’t matter how great your quarterback is, or how great your wide receivers are; if you can’t block, it doesn’t matter, and if you can’t pass protect, you can’t get the ball off.”

Aside from the No. 2 pick overall in the 2021 NFL Draft, Douglas will have a ton of cap space with which to work, meaning the Jets could be serious players in free agency. But again, Lombardi warns that money can’t solve all the problems.

 

“It takes more than one player. This is what’s going on in Dallas – if they want to have Dak Prescott have a $39 million cap number and take the franchise tag, just watch the Vikings and see what happened with Kirk Cousins. You can have all the money, but you have to work with me so we can spread it out and have a good team around you. If you take a huge cap number, there won’t be a good team around you and we won’t win anything, so what’s the point?”

if darnold's draft status was predicated on how he's done with the jets the past 2 yrs he'd be a 4th round pick at best and that's the flaw in the logic.  at some point what he did at USC is largely irrelevant.

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Just now, nycdan said:

I think my personal nightmare scenario is we trade Sam to SF and draft Wilson.  Sam goes to the playoffs with a really good turnaround season and Wilson is a bad rookie.  Wilson fans and Sam-haters won't accept the possibility but to me, it feels like watching a slow-motion car wreck if this is how things play out.

look, i think we as jet fans are so afraid of anyone leaving this team and having any degree of success we're inclined to hold onto these guys so they can't possible succeed elsewhere.  the reality is that this team has been so bad that darnold would look better anywhere else, including with the new jet offense next season.  but the point is, if darnold is at his core a system qb, how much better will someone like wilson be in the system than darnold?  and i think what the rams did with goff and what SF did with garroppolo are great examples of how you can win with good coaching and strong overall teams, but that ultimately these qbs will fall short in big time playoff situations if they're truly only system qbs.  and i think that's really the final analysis that the new jet staff is doing with darnold, they're trying to figure out what he can be if they recreate the SF team here, what's his ceiling.

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9 minutes ago, joewilly12 said:

NFL rumors: Jets might want to keep Sam Darnold and build around him, ex-GM and N.J. native says

Updated 6:56 AM; Today 6:55 AM 
New York Jets defeat Cleveland Browns, Dec., 27, 2020

The New York Jets might trade quarterback Sam Darnold, the No. 3 pick overall in the 2018 NFL Draft.Andrew Mills | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com

 

The New York Jets are getting calls on Sam Darnold, but former NFL general manager Michael Lombardi isn’t sold on shipping out the 23-year-old quarterback.

Lombardi, an Ocean City, N.J. native, knows a thing or two about building winners, after working alongside some of the game’s greats, including Al Davis on the Oakland Raiders, Bill Walsh on the San Francisco 49ers and Bill Belichick on the Cleveland Browns and New England Patriots.

Lombardi joined WFAN on Tuesday to talk about the options Jets GM Joe Douglas faces. Specifically, should Douglas use the No. 2 pick overall on a quarterback or keep the pick and build around Darnold, the No. 3 pick overall in the 2018 NFL Draft?

 

“I think what you do is you put Sam in this draft, and ask yourself: is Sam is better than Justin Fields or Zach Wilson? He’s not newer, but is he better? Because newer doesn’t mean it solves the problem. ... Would they be better off holding Sam and drafting the tackle out of Oregon (Penei Sewell), and having two dominant tackles to determine how they run and pass protect? That makes a big difference – just ask Kansas City. One thing we learned from the Super Bowl is that it doesn’t matter how great your quarterback is, or how great your wide receivers are; if you can’t block, it doesn’t matter, and if you can’t pass protect, you can’t get the ball off.”

Aside from the No. 2 pick overall in the 2021 NFL Draft, Douglas will have a ton of cap space with which to work, meaning the Jets could be serious players in free agency. But again, Lombardi warns that money can’t solve all the problems.

 

“It takes more than one player. This is what’s going on in Dallas – if they want to have Dak Prescott have a $39 million cap number and take the franchise tag, just watch the Vikings and see what happened with Kirk Cousins. You can have all the money, but you have to work with me so we can spread it out and have a good team around you. If you take a huge cap number, there won’t be a good team around you and we won’t win anything, so what’s the point?”

This Rosenstein guy at NJ.com is making himself a career out of writing stories that say absolutely nothing and topping them with headlines designed to fool you into thinking there’s news here. 

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On 2/15/2021 at 6:05 PM, joewilly12 said:

2021 NFL Draft: Early Jets 7-round mock

By
 Ryan Honey
 - 
 02/15/2021
Jets-Mock-Draft-header-681x554.jpg

The New York Jets possess an abundance of selections in the upcoming 2021 NFL Draft. Who may they acquire?

Ryan Honey

Soon enough, we’ll be able to hear the treasured phrase, “The pick is in.” The 2021 NFL Draft begins on Thursday, April 29, and thanks to a number of trades with different teams, the New York Jets will have their name pop up ten times.

That’s right. Coming off a 10th straight season without a playoff appearance, the Jets possess ten selections in the annual event and will be looking to land the right talent in order to develop towards a postseason berth, one that hopefully arrives sooner than later.

Jets-mock-draft-288x400.jpg

There are numerous positions and roles the Jets must target while utilizing said draft choices, meaning general manager Joe Douglas and his staff will need to meticulously make the right decisions in the evaluation process.

Who could the Jets ultimately acquire ahead of the 2021 campaign?

Let’s take a look at our first Jets mock draft of the new offseason.

1st round (No. 2 overall) — Zach Wilson, QB, BYU

The Jets don’t 100% need to go with a quarterback at No. 2 and could roll the dice with Sam Darnold while building around the soon-to-be fourth-year player. Nonetheless, drafting Zach Wilson and starting fresh with the star BYU quarterback will likely be the move if the Jets keep this valuable selection.

Last season, Wilson proved to be careful with the ball, recording a 73.5% completion rate with just three interceptions. He combined for 3,692 passing yards and 33 touchdowns in 12 games.

He’s additionally athletic and can use his feet, having rushed for 254 yards on a 3.6 yards-per-carry rate with 10 touchdowns this past year.

Wilson will need to develop, but that’s fine. Any rookie quarterback does, even the eventual stars. But given his talent and versatility, the Jets will likely choose to go with him instead of risking another down year from Darnold.

1st round (No. 21 overall via Colts) — Terrace Marshall Jr., WR, LSU

The Jets need offensive weapons after ranking last in both total offense and scoring and 31st in passing. Zach Wilson will also need a talented passing-game target to work with, and that’s where Terrace Marshall Jr. comes in at No. 21, a pick provided to the Jets after sending Darnold and a 2021 third-round pick (No. 66 overall) to Indianapolis.

The LSU Tiger would bring height to the receiving corps at 6-foot-3. On the field, Marshall carries a knack for the end zone, having combined for 23 touchdown receptions over the last two years. This would be a benefit to a Jets team that threw just 16 touchdown passes all of last season.

Marshall caught 48 balls for 731 yards and 10 touchdowns last year, a season that included opponents such as Missouri, Auburn, and Texas A&M.

1st round (No. 23 overall) — Jaycee Horn, CB, South Carolina

Given the number of contracts that are expiring in and around the Jets defensive backfield, New York may need a new starting cornerback for 2021 and beyond.

Enter: Jaycee Horn at No. 23.

Horn can be physical, having combined for 85 tackles from 2018-19 (23 games). He additionally notched 23 pass breakups in 30 total collegiate matchups.

The 21-year-old could develop into a long-term starter especially if Brian Pooledoesn’t remain in Florham Park. And if he doesn’t start right away, that’s fine. It’s still useful to employ depth in the defensive backfield.

2nd round (No. 34 overall) — Quincy Roche, EDGE, Miami (FL)

The Jets will require a young edge rusher to fill a void if Jordan Jenkins and Tarell Basham both depart. New York additionally just needs general help at that position, considering the team combined for 31 sacks last season (tied for 20th in the NFL).

Quincy Roche racked up 4.5 sacks for Miami last year but recorded 13 while with Temple in 2019. His 30.5 sacks across 45 collegiate games translate to 10.8 per 16 games.

Roche’s efforts earned him the AAC Defensive Player of the Year Award and a spot on the All-AAC first team in 2019. He was a third-team All-ACC selection in 2020 and would probably find decent playing time with the Jets right away.

3rd round (No. 87 overall) — Rhamondre Stevenson, RB, Oklahoma

With the lingering uncertainty regarding La’Mical Perine‘s ability to be a true No. 1 back, the Jets will likely utilize a running back committee.

The team could use someone bigger than Perine (216 pounds), and Oklahoma’s Rhamondre Stevenson (247 pounds) fulfills that requirement.

Stevenson underwent a productive 2020 at Oklahoma; he averaged 110.8 rushing yards per game with seven touchdowns to go along with 18 catches and 211 yards through the air.

He could be a multi-purpose back and wouldn’t assume overwhelming responsibility given the other backs currently present on the Jets roster.

4th round (No. 98 overall) — Garret Wallow, LB, TCU

Hopefully Neville Hewitt returns on a new deal and the Jets get C.J. Mosley back after he opted out of the 2020 season due to coronavirus concerns. But regardless, it’s beneficial to employ depth at the inside linebacker position, and in the fourth round, the Jets could address that need with the selection of TCU’s Garret Wallow.

The Horned Frog is a tackling machine. He racked up 295 total tackles in 40 career collegiate games (7.4 per game) and ultimately recorded 125 total tackles (77 solo), 18 tackles for loss, and 3.5 sacks through 12 games in 2019.

The Jets could initially utilize him as a situational linebacker, and he may possess knowledgeable professionals in Hewitt and Mosley to learn from moving forward.

For what it’s worth, Wallow was a two-time All-Big 12 first team selection (2019 and 2020), two-time Honorable-Mention Big 12 Defensive Player of the Year (2019 and 2020), and an Honorable-Mention All-American in 2019.

5th round (No. 130 overall) — Josh Ball, OT, Marshall

The Jets could use a reserve tackle, and a selection focusing on the offensive line would be beneficial just in case Mekhi Becton and/or George Fant suffers an injury.

Marshall’s Josh Ball sports fantastic size at 6-foot-8, 309 pounds, and the height is surely an advantage.

On The Draft Network, Ball is the 18th-ranked offensive tackle prospect.

5th round (No. 138 overall) — Caden Sterns, S, Texas

You can never possess enough depth in the defensive backfield, as we say all the time. That’s especially the case with multiple expiring contracts in the Jets secondary.

In the fifth round, the Jets could snag a young safety and utilize him as a situational defensive back, and if he efficiently develops, his role could expand down the line.

Texas’ Caden Sterns is a physical safety who notched 173 total tackles through 29 games at the collegiate level (six tackles per game). His 62 total tackles, four interceptions, and four pass breakups in 2018 led to him receiving the Big 12 Defensive Freshman of the Year Award and a first-team All-Big 12 selection.

6th round (No. 162 overall) — Bryce Thompson, CB, Tennessee

It’s the “never enough depth” concept, coming to you live once again in the sixth round.

While Bryce Thompson doesn’t have outstanding size (6-foot, 180 pounds), he was semi-productive for the Volunteers, having notched eight interceptions and 100 total tackles through 31 collegiate games.

Given his late-round status, Thompson doesn’t need to be a star in the NFL but could be a reserve cornerback for the Jets who finds playing time in certain on-field scenarios.

7th round (No. 215 overall) — Brandon Smith, WR, Iowa

Add one more offensive weapon, why not? Again, the team was at the bottom of the league (or at least near the bottom) in a multitude of offensive categories. And with a new rookie quarterback, you might as well stock up on potential passing-game targets.

Brandon Smith brings favorable size at 6-foot-2, 218 pounds and gained 1,031 combined yards through the air over the last three seasons (26 games) with the Hawkeyes.

He wasn’t entirely productive, but that’s why he could still be on the board in the later rounds. Not to mention, him going up against pro-like competition in college is a plus. In 2020, Smith and Iowa faced the likes of Northwestern, Penn State, and Wisconsin in the Big Ten.

Wow, one of the few drafts I really love. Nice. I am leaning towards Fields over Wilson but if JD went with Wilson I would trust his judgement. I like Wilson a lot as well. 

Love the Marshall pick. You add a vet FA to line up across from Mims and with Crowder in the slot you could put Marshall anywhere to be productive. He's big, physical, fast and has great hands. 

Love the J.Horn pick. He's one of my favorite CBs in this draft and I think has legit potential to be a #1 lock down outside CB. I think the Jets still add a veteran like Sherman but Horn would be a great pick for the future. 

Now, I kinda wanted a Pass Rusher in Rd. 1 but I love Q.Roche as a prospect. He's a bit undersized but has a fantastic motor and attacks with a variety of pass rush moves. It may actually be a bit early for him but I know pass rushers tend to go early. The only question is will he fit in Saleh's system. He's 6'3, 245. Doesn't really fit as an every down LEO. I don't think he has the skill set to drop into coverage as a 4-3 OLB. He would really be a OLB Pass Rush specialist, which makes me wonder of this pick makes sense. But I love the prospect. 

If you are going with a power back, I LOVE Stevenson. Again, not sure if this is a bit of a reach but this guy is like Derrick Henry 2.0. An absolute LOAD. I think it makes sense if the Jets intend to go with Perine and Ty. Stevenson adds that 3rd dimension. I would love to see this 3 headed monster behind a revamped interior O-line. Just imagine this guy running behind Becton. He's not nec. slow either. He can definitely build up some speed. 

I don't know much about Wallow other than the fact that everyone says he is a 'tackling machine'. I don't mind this pick. I REALLY like Chazz Surratt as a ILB. A really athletic LB who can cover and blitz effectively. He'll most certainly be off the board by now. I think he may be there in the 3rd and Stevenson is available in the 4th so maybe we swap those picks an take Surratt? I dunno. 

Ball is one of my most underrated prospects in this draft. Seems like nobody is talking about him. I really like his size, length, athleticism and he just looks like a legit NFL LT when you watch his tape. Definitely a developmental prospect but I think would be a nice value pickup in Rd. 5. 

Another prospect I love. Sterns is really athletic and physical. Flies all over the field. Great ball awareness. I've had him on my radar for a while. 

The last two guys- Thompson and Smith I don't know much about but adding a WR and CB makes sense to me late in the draft. I honestly would not mind taking a kicker. Borregales is supposed to be really good. I'm no expert on kickers but I have no issue drafting one so we can finally address that position. I also think LaFleur likes his FBs and he may look for a versatile FB late in the draft.  

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NFL rumors: Here’s what Jets’ trade for Texans’ Deshaun Watson could cost them — and where Sam Darnold might land

Updated 6:45 AM; Today 6:45 AM 
Deshaun Watson

Houston Texans quarterback Deshaun Watson could be traded. AP

 

No matter what happens, this will be a busy offseason for Jetsgeneral manager Joe Douglas.

And it could involve a couple big quarterback trades — the Texans’ Deshaun Watson coming to the Jets, and Douglas dealing Sam Darnold to a quarterback-needy team.

Pro Football Focus has projected what those trades might look like.

PFF has the Jets giving up three first-round draft picks and a second-rounder for Watson. Which is a ton. But that could be what it takes to get him.

In this scenario, two of the first-rounders would be in 2021 (Nos. 2 and 23 overall), and the other is in 2022. (Remember, the Jets have two first-rounders in both 2021 and 2022, because of the Jamal Adams trade with Seattle.) And the second-rounder would be in 2021 (No. 34).

 

Here is PFF’s analysis of the deal:

 

The potential fear from Watson’s perspective is that the Jets giving up this much draft capital could lead to New York being in the same position as Houston is currently, with not much talent to speak of outside of their new quarterback. However, even parting with this monster haul, the Jets would still have 2022 first- and second-round picks to work with. Ultimately, Watson’s no-trade clause provides him veto power over any potential move. If the Jets can manage to pull this off, no compensation package is too large.

This trade would leave the Jets with one first-rounder (either their pick or Seattle’s) and one second-rounder in the 2022 NFL Draft.

 

But PFF also has the Jets picking up a 2021 second-rounder from Washington — by trading Darnold. That would be No. 51 overall. And PFF also has Washington sending the Jets a 2022 fifth-rounder, in this Darnold deal. This trade would make a lot of sense for the Jets.

 

Here is PFF’s analysis of it:

 

Darnold’s struggles in New York are well-documented, but he’s younger than 2020 first overall pick Joe Burrow and had probably the worst coaching situation possible to bring him along with the Jets. Ron Rivera can hope to hit the reset button on Darnold’s career and get the ghosts out of his line of sight. Washington has a solid offensive line, and while the team certainly needs more weapons, wideout Terry McLaurin would immediately become the best target Darnold has ever had in the NFL.

Fair points all.

 
 

OK, so let’s compare the Jets’ current draft situation — in terms of picks in Rounds 1-3 — to what they’d be left with from these two trades.

 

CURRENT SITUATION ...

 

Round 1: Two picks in 2021 (second and 23rd), two picks in 2022

 

Round 2: One pick in 2021 (34th), one pick in 2022

 

Round 3: Two picks in 2021 (66th and 87th), one pick in 2022

 

AFTER THESE TRADES ...

 

Round 1: No picks in 2021, one pick in 2022

 

Round 2: One pick in 2021 (51st), one pick in 2022

 

Round 3: Two picks in 2021 (66th and 87th), one pick in 2022

 

So while giving up three (of their four) first-rounders for Watson, the Jets would also be moving from No. 34 to No. 51 in this year’s second round, because of these two trades. In short, the Darnold trade would help soften the blow of dealing for Watson.

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7 minutes ago, joewilly12 said:

The potential fear from Watson’s perspective is that the Jets giving up this much draft capital could lead to New York being in the same position as Houston is currently, with not much talent to speak of outside of their new quarterback. However, even parting with this monster haul, the Jets would still have 2022 first- and second-round picks to work with. Ultimately, Watson’s no-trade clause provides him veto power over any potential move. If the Jets can manage to pull this off, no compensation package is too large.

PFF is good now

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What should the New York Jets do at No. 23? | NFL draft Q&A

By
 Sam Crnic
 - 
 02/17/2021

How would you rank the Jets’ positions of need at the 23rd selection?

Generally speaking, there are six positions of need (not including QB) I could see the Jets addressing at the 23rd spot. There are certainly some positions with more depth than others at this point in the first round, but I’ll go off who I think has a good chance of dropping.

Here are my six possible positions for the Jets to target at No. 23, ranked from “of most importance” to “of least importance”.

No. 1: Cornerback

I’m putting defensive end at No. 1 if South Carolina CB Jaycee Horn doesn’t drop to the 23rd selection. If he does, it’s a no-brainer pick despite whoever’s left on the board. Horn is my third and final first-round grade CB after Alabama’s Patrick Surtain and Virginia Tech’s Caleb Farley and would be a steal if somehow dropping out of the top 20. He would be the perfect Cover 1/Cover 3 corner in Jets’ head coach Robert Saleh’s 4-3 defense. In addition, he fits the physical build and play-style of Joe Douglas’ past history of signing or drafting CBs.

 

The Georgia native is known for his length, size, and overall aggressive nature. What I love about Horn is his non-stop competitive motor that allows him to match up with anyone on the field. Jaycee’s unique physical build is best displayed in press coverage, where he uses his length to his advantage in stunning opposing WRs at the line of scrimmage.

If the South Carolina product is not available at the 23rd spot, it would be a reach to take a CB here, and I would put off the position until the 34th selection (second round).

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6 hours ago, nycdan said:

I think my personal nightmare scenario is we trade Sam to SF and draft Wilson.  Sam goes to the playoffs with a really good turnaround season and Wilson is a bad rookie.  Wilson fans and Sam-haters won't accept the possibility but to me, it feels like watching a slow-motion car wreck if this is how things play out.

You know it will happen.

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From what I read and heard. The fullback is a key component in the Shanahan offense.   

https://www.theringer.com/nfl-playoffs/2020/1/28/21106548/san-francisco-49ers-kyle-juszczyk-fullback-kyle-shanahan-offense

How a Fullback Became the Key to Unlocking the 49ers Offense

Kyle Juszczyk may not be a household name, but his versatility makes Kyle Shanahan’s offense tick—and gives the unit its identity

By Robert Mays  Jan 28, 2020, 5:50am ES
 

Kyle Juszczyk isn’t your typical fullback. The Harvard product may be listed at “FB” on the 49ers’ depth chart and spend most of his snaps lined up as a lead blocker, but he’s much more than a human battering ram. Kyle Shanahan explained it best in October, after Juszczyk suffered a knee injury that was projected to keep him out for a month. “You don’t replace Kyle,” the 49ers head coach lamented. “He’s one of a kind.”

Because of the variety of roles he occupies in Shanahan’s system, the Niners had to use multiple players to fill the void Juszczyk left. No. 3 tight end Ross Dwelley took over his fullback duties as a lead blocker out of the backfield, while Levine Toilolo saw increased snaps in two–tight end sets. But even that couldn’t truly replicate what Juszczyk brings to the table. As the Niners offense has expanded in its third season under Shanahan, San Francisco’s do-it-all weapon has become one of the most versatile players in the NFL. And his ability to seamlessly transition between roles gives the Niners an air of unpredictability that’s become central to their success.

 

When Juszczyk signed a market-shattering deal with the 49ers in 2017, some balked at the final numbers. His $5.25 million average annual value is 42.4 percent higher than that of any other fullback in the league. But while that may seem like a drastic overpay, Shanahan and general manager John Lynch had a clear vision for how they would deploy Juszczyk within the Niners’ diversified offense. And this season, that vision has become reality.

During the NFC championship game, Juszczyk lined up in a different spot on the Niners’ first eight offensive plays. He started the game on the left of quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo in a split-back, shotgun formation. On the next snap, he was in a three-point stance next to the left tackle as an inline tight end. One play later, he was situated as a traditional I-formation fullback. When I asked Juszczyk after that game how many different spots he’s lined up in this year, he had a simple yet staggering answer: All of them. “It’s however many different positions there are on the field: wide, slot, tight, backfield—on both sides,” Juszczyk says. “Outside of the QB, I probably have to know the most [about the offense].”

 

As San Francisco has shifted to a more run-heavy approach in the playoffs, Juszczyk has embraced his role as a traditional blocking back. He isn’t a devastating bruiser in the run game like teammate George Kittle, but Juszczyk consistently gets the job done as the lead blocker in San Francisco’s two-back schemes. During the regular season, the Niners used two-back sets on a league-leading 28 percent of their snaps. On those plays, San Francisco averaged a robust 5.7 yards per carry.

What Juszczyk lacks in pure power, he makes up for in athleticism. Take this run from the first half of the NFC title game. At the snap, Juszczyk initially takes an exaggerated step to his right in order to get width ahead of the outside toss to Raheem Mostert. As Za’Darius Smith crashes hard inside, though, Juszczyk has to quickly redirect and wall off the Packers’ star pass rusher as he darts into the backfield. It’s not some bone-crunching block, but Juszczyk’s ability to adjust midstream allows him to seal Smith and let Mostert get the edge.

ezgif.com_optimize___2020_01_27T153355.8

Over the second half of the season, the Niners have used a ton of split-back sets from the shotgun that are slight alterations of their core run-game concepts. The setup may look entirely different to the defense than standard two-back packages under center, but for San Francisco, it’s just a simple way to tweak the same old runs. “Really, it just gives us the ability to run I-formation in shotgun,” Juszczyk says. “Sometimes it’s more advantageous to be in the gun. RPOs are easier to read [in shotgun]. You get lateral on wide zones because the back’s track is more straight down the line.” Along with slight variations on its trademark zone runs, the split-back look also gives San Francisco another way to execute the gap and power runs that Shanahan has used more this season than ever before. “Guys have to play more lateral [against zone runs],” Juszczyk says. “And when you’re playing lateral, it just sets yourself for gap schemes. Typically, a wide zone, you don’t picture it as aggressive. You don’t picture the offensive linemen getting into the defensive linemen as you would in a gap scheme. I think you can shock people.”

ezgif.com_optimize___2020_01_27T152149.1

That knack for toying with a defense’s expectations is the foundation of what makes Juszczyk so useful to the Niners offense. His movement skills in the run game allow the Niners to try blocking schemes that other teams wouldn’t even consider, and those wonky wrinkles add layers of deception to an offense that’s already tough to figure out. My favorite Juszczyk play from the NFC championship game came on a big run by Deebo Samuel in the second quarter. The Niners are lined up in a heavy 22 personnel package (two running backs, two tight ends, and one wide receiver) with Juszczyk as an I-formation fullback. Juszczyk shuffles in motion to the right, and at the snap, he flies across the formation toward Smith on the left edge. This type of action would typically indicate a power play in San Francisco’s scheme, but instead of kicking Smith out, Juszczyk gives a quick head fake and peels around to the outside. It’s a sneaky move designed to play on Smith’s assumptions, and it works like a charm. Bracing for contact, Smith squeezes down hard and gives Samuel a wide-open path to the corner for an 11-yard gain.

ezgif.com_optimize___2020_01_27T152423.9

Trickery like this showcases why it’s such a pain in the ass to play against Juszczyk and this offense. Every time a defender reacts to a movement or action with any sort of conviction, there’s a chance that he’s about to look pretty damn silly. The Niners’ illusions have become so complex that opposing defenders have even approached Juszczyk after games to discuss their frustrations. “[Seahawks linebacker] Mychal Kendricks came up to me and said ‘Dude, you’re slippery. I don’t know whether you’re running to the flat or kicking me out,’” Juszczyk says. “I see defenders hesitate at times. Whether they don’t know if I’m releasing into the flat or kicking them out on power. Or if I’m releasing up the seam down the middle, or leading up on an outside zone.”

That last predicament burned the Steelers when the two teams met in Week 3. On a first-and-10 near midfield late in the first quarter, the Niners lined up in 21 personnel (two backs, one tight end, two receivers) with Juszczyk as an I-formation fullback. At the snap, Juszczyk shot out of his stance and made a beeline toward linebacker Mark Barron in what looked like a simple lead run. But just before contact, Juszczyk slipped down the field and caught a pass for a 27-yard completion.

ezgif.com_optimize___2020_01_27T152634.5

For someone who’s 240 pounds, Juszczyk is a shockingly effective big-play target. San Francisco averaged 9.96 yards per attempt on Juszczyk’s 24 targets this season, which certainly helped fuel the Niners’ healthy 9.7 yards per attempt out of 21 personnel. But their ruthless passing efficiency with Juszczyk on the field goes way beyond the occasional shot play. Throwing out of heavier personnel packages is typically an easy way for teams to exploit base defenses that keep three linebackers on the field. But Juszczyk is more than just a big body that helps dictate who’s on the field. Smart teams like New England regularly motion fullbacks out of the backfield to decipher coverage and create mismatches elsewhere (think the Patriots’ game-winning drive in last year’s Super Bowl). The difference is that when Juszczyk motions out wide, he isn’t just a decoy.

On this play midway through the first quarter against Green Bay, Juszczyk motions from the backfield to a wide receiver alignment on the right side. Because cornerback Kevin King follows Juszczyk toward the sideline, Garoppolo knows that he’s throwing into a zone defense. At the snap, Juszczyk runs a quick 5-yard in route, with Samuel running a deep dig behind him. Rather than ignoring the fullback, linebacker B.J. Goodson drives on Juszczyk, which frees up space for Garoppolo to rifle a throw to Samuel for a 30-yard catch and run.

Shanahan has a keen awareness of how often he has to run certain concepts to make them a credible threat. The Niners may not throw to Juszczyk much, but they do it enough to force defenses to account for him. Against the Seahawks in Week 17, Juszczyk lined up as a slot receiver on the right as part of a two-receiver look to that side. At the snap, Juszczyk released inside and got lost behind Kendricks for a huge 49-yard gain.

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Juszczyk has been mostly relegated to blocking during the postseason, but in a potentially tight Super Bowl, it wouldn’t be a surprise to see Shanahan use his human Swiss army knife to rip off a game-swinging play. No matter what his receiving load, though, Juszczyk’s presence will change the Chiefs’ defensive constitution, the same way it has for opponents all season. His numbers may not blow anybody away, but his multidimensional role is central to the Niners’ identity. 

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On 2/15/2021 at 2:25 PM, joewilly12 said:

Who stays and who goes? 

 

 

Player Pos. 2020 Team 2021 Team Type Snaps Age Current APY Guarantees
Breshad Perriman WR Jets   UFA 65.8% 28 $6,500,000 $6,000,000
Brian Poole CB Jets   UFA 42.3% 29 $5,000,000 $4,500,000
Bradley McDougald S Jets   UFA 38.0% 31 $4,500,000 $5,500,000
Jordan Jenkins EDGE Jets   UFA 46.4% 27 $3,750,000 $3,250,000
Patrick Onwuasor LB Jets   UFA 0.0% 29 $2,000,000 $2,000,000
Neville Hewitt LB Jets   UFA 99.2% 28 $2,000,000 $1,000,000
Marcus Maye S Jets   UFA 99.9% 28 $1,638,503 $4,134,462
Joe Flacco QB Jets   UFA 25.3% 36 $1,500,000 $550,000
Matthias Farley S Jets   UFA 17.5% 29 $1,290,000 $0
Frank Gore RB Jets   UFA 38.4% 38 $1,050,000 $200,000
Daniel Brown TE Jets   UFA 2.8% 29 $960,000 $0
Pat Elflein RG Jets   UFA 41.9% 27 $936,960 $936,840
Josh Andrews C Jets   UFA 31.4% 30 $910,000 $0
Bryce Hager LB Jets   UFA 12.0% 29 $910,000 $0
Arthur Maulet CB Jets   UFA 35.5% 28 $875,000 $175,000
Trevon Coley DT Jets   UFA 17.3% 27 $825,000 $0
Ross Travis TE Jets   UFA 0.3% 28 $825,000 $0
Tarell Basham EDGE Jets   UFA 64.4% 27 $808,878 $835,856
Frankie Luvu LB Jets   RFA 22.6% 25 $750,000 $0
Josh Adams RB Jets   RFA 7.6% 25 $750,000 $0
Bennett Jackson CB Jets   UFA 0.0% 30 $675,000 $0
Vyncint Smith WR Jets   RFA 5.1% 25 $615,000 $0
Harvey Langi LB Jets   RFA 45.0% 29 $615,000 $0
Kyron Brown CB Jets   ERFA 0.0% 25 $540,000 $0
Jeff Smith WR Jets   ERFA 32.2% 24 $540,000 $0

jurassic park deal with it GIF

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NFL rumors: Jets will trade Sam Darnold to NFC East, 4 ESPN experts predict

Updated 9:05 AM; Today 9:03 AM 
New York Jets defeat Cleveland Browns, Dec., 27, 2020

The New York Jets might decide to trade quarterback Sam Darnold.Andrew Mills | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com

 

New York Jets general manager Joe Douglas isn’t lacking for options this offseason.

Armed with the No. 2 pick overall in the 2021 NFL Draft, he could decide to select one of the top quarterbacks on the board and bring a quick end to the Sam Darnold era.

It was just three years ago the Jets selected Darnold with the No. 3 pick overall in the 2018 NFL Draft.

But with the likes of BYU’s Zach Wilson and Ohio State’s Justin Fields available (presuming the Jacksonville Jaguars select Clemson’s Trevor Lawrence at No. 1), Douglas could decide he’s seen more than enough of Darnold.

 
 

During a roundtable discussion on the NFL offseason, four ESPN insiders predict the Jets will trade Darnold to theWashington Football Team.

John Keim, Washington Football Team reporter: It’s hard to see Washington mortgaging what it would take to get Deshaun Watson. It’s hard to imagine Derek Carr going anywhere. That leaves Darnold as a trade possibility. In talking to a couple of coaches around the league, he’s the one they said they would pursue if they were Washington. He’s young, talented, can move, and the hope would be his issues stemmed as much from the Jets situation as anything. I wouldn’t give up a lot for him considering a team has only a year to make up its mind before his option kicks in, and his production doesn’t merit a lot. But he’s worth a shot.

Jeremy Fowler, national NFL writer: Darnold has untapped potential, mobility and a modest trade price if the Jets find their future quarterback at No. 2 overall or via a major Watson play. And let’s not discount Smith, who led Washington to a 5-2 record down the stretch.

 

Jason Reid, The Undefeated senior NFL writer: Being a USC alum, I’d like to see Darnold start over in a good environment. ... Washington qualifies as one. Finally, the franchise appears to have stability within both the football and business operations. With Washington, Darnold would at least have a chance to prove whether it was him or the Jets (history tells us it was probably the Jets). To acquire Darnold, Washington won’t be required to offer anything close to the draft capital it took for the Rams to get Matthew Stafford. Washington and Darnold makes a whole lot of sense.

 

Kevin Seifert, national NFL writer: Sam Darnold. Owner Daniel Snyder has always pushed for big-name players at this position, and I’ll believe claims that Snyder is allowing his football leaders to make football decisions when I see it actually happen in a high-profile situation.

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Jets will be flush with cap space now that NFL’s salary cap will be higher than expected

Updated 9:45 AM; Today 9:32 AM 
Joe Douglas

New York Jets general manager Joe Douglas speaks during a news conference at the team's NFL football training facility in Florham Park, N.J., Tuesday, June 11, 2019. (AP Photo/Seth Wenig)AP

 

Jets general manager Joe Douglas is going to have enough cap space this offseason to do pretty much whatever he wants in free agency.

Well, free agents will have to want to sign with the Jets, but money will not be an issue, no matter what the NFL’s 2021 salary cap figure comes in at. The Jets are in great shape financially, mostly because they’ve off-loaded most of their bad contracts and have a quarterback (Sam Darnold) still on his rookie contract.

The NFL announced a salary cap floor of $180 million on Thursday, up from the original $175 million figure. The actual cap could come in even higher. No matter what it lands at, the Jets will be fine.

 

At the $180 million figure, Over the Cap has the Jets with $67.9 million in cap space for 2021. They’ll likely cut defensive lineman Henry Anderson, too, which will clear an additional $8 million in cap room. Guard Alex Lewis, who fell out of favor by the end of the 2020 season, could be cut for more than $5 million in additional savings.

 

New head coach Robert Saleh should be salivating at all the possibilities.

The Jets have needs all across the roster, especially on the offensive line, at wide receiver and in the secondary. The significant cap space could allow them to both re-sign safety Marcus Maye while still pursuing other potential secondary upgrades like cornerback Richard Sherman. This is considered a historically deep free agency class at wide receiver, and the Jets could be in the running for players like Kenny Golladay, Will Fuller, Corey Davis, Juju Smith-Schuster, Curtis Samuel, Nelson Agholor, T.Y. Hilton and whoever else actually hits the open market.

 

It should be an interesting offseason in Florham Park.

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Deshaun Watson knows a trade to Jets would prevent a significant rebuild in Florham Park

By
 Ryan Honey
 - 
 02/18/2021
deshaun watson jets (Photo by Bob Levey/Getty Images)

Deshaun Watson still wants out of Houston. However, the Jets trading for him would leave them with limited capital to rebuild.

The Deshaun Watson saga continues; the superstar quarterback has requested a trade and the Jets have been in the mix. The 25-year-old will be absurdly expensive though, and he understands that concept makes it a tough situation for prospective trade partners.

According to Jayson Jenks and Aaron Reiss of The Athletic, Watson knows a trade to the Jets would make it really difficult for New York to build around him.

And it’s definitely true, almost to the point where it’s unclear if any team would be willing to give up what Watson would eventually cost.

Right now, the Texans have all the leverage in the world. It was initially believed that a hypothetical trade involving the Jets would involve Gang Green giving up potentially three first-rounders and quarterback Sam Darnold. However, then-32-year-old Matthew Stafford went to the Rams for two first-rounders, a third-rounder and two-time Pro Bowl quarterback Jared Goff, a deal that could certainly lead to the Texans asking for an even larger return. Not to mention, Houston doesn’t want to trade Watson anyway, which might force teams to further up their possible offers.

If there’s an organization that may possess the draft capital to get it done, it’s the Jets. New York owns two first-round picks in each of the next two drafts and could give three or all four to the Texans if they were to desperately wish for Watson.

However, they would then put themselves in a tough spot when it comes to subsequently acquiring top-tier offensive weapons, offensive line help, or defensive assistance through the draft.

Trading for Watson would additionally make it difficult to bring in notable talent via free agency, given Deshaun’s current contract. Watson’s cap hits over the next three seasons are set to be $15.9 million, $40.4 million, and $42.4 million, respectively.

Listen, none of us can predict exactly what’s going to occur with Watson, but don’t be surprised if a trade isn’t agreed to prior to the 2021 season’s commencement. He’s too expensive and the Texans carry too much leverage. Any team that trades for him would be giving up an absurd amount of draft capital and cap space and limit the chances to build around him, and the Jets are no exception.

With that said, it’s looking like the Jets’ quarterback options might come down to either Darnold or a first-round draftee, potentially BYU’s Zach Wilson. Trading the former could provide the Jets with a late first-rounder, and there are multiple teams with that type of draft selection who may need a new quarterback — Chicago and Washington included.

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NFL rumors: Jets’ Sam Darnold’s trade value in question after Eagles-Colts Carson Wentz deal

Updated 6:35 AM; Today 6:34 AM 
N.Y. Jets host Philadelphia Eagles in final NFL 2019 preseason game

The trade of Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Carson Wentz (left) could have a trickle-down effect on New York Jets QB Sam Darnold (right).Andrew Mills | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com

 

The quarterback carousel keeps going around and around in the NFL.

It began spinning last month when the Detroit Lions traded Matthew Stafford to the Los Angeles Rams for quarterback Jared Goff, two first-round draft picks and a third-round pick.

It picked up speed Thursday when the Philadelphia Eaglesagreed to trade Carson Wentz to the Indianapolis Colts for a 2021 third-round pick and 2022 second-round pick.

 
 

So how much could the New York Jets get for Sam Darnold? Per SNY’s Ralph Vacchiano:

 

Darnold’s trade value, according to multiple league sources, is probably the same as it was before the Eagles made their deal with the Indianapolis Colts on Thursday. The Eagles got a 2021 third-round pick and a conditional 2022 second-round pick that could become a first-rounder if Wentz meets some playing time incentives. The return for Darnold, according to those sources, has long been projected to be a second-round pick, plus maybe another mid-to-late rounder. And those sources told SNY on Thursday after the Wentz deal was made that their thinking on Darnold’s value hasn’t changed.

Jets general manager Joe Douglas has to decide if he wants to part with Darnold and use the No. 2 pick overall in the 2021 NFL Draft to select the team’s new franchise quarterback.

 

But the draft is still more than two months away, which guarantees the carousel won’t stop spinning anytime soon.

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