New York Jets: Draft strategy should be trading down, but not too far

The New York Jets have an easy draft strategy in 2019. They should trade down, but not out of the top 10.

The New York Jets are picking at the top of the NFL Draft, yet again. Another disappointing season has led them to the No. 3 overall pick for the fifth time in franchise history. So what should the Jets do with their pick?

The answer is simple given the state of the roster for Gang Green. They should trade down and acquire picks to help them build for the future. That said, they shouldn’t trade down too far.

Both the Giants and the Buccaneers need a quarterback, while the 49ers and Cardinals — who pick ahead of the Jets — don’t. Therefore, the Jets sit in the cat-bird seat, because teams don’t have to move past them to get a quarterback. The Jets should avoid moving far past the Giants, because then they risk losing the pick they should get — and that’s either Josh Allen or Jonah Williams.

The Jets are without a second round pick, and with the third overall pick, they could control the draft if the Bucs or Giants feel the need to move up. Both teams are actually playoff teams if they had better quarterback play.

There is one problem though. Ohio State quarterback Dwayne Haskins has yet to declare for the draft, and that means the best quarterback available is probably either Will Grier or Drew Lock, neither of whom is top-tier NFL talent — good quarterbacks, but need work similar to Aaron Rodgers when he came out.

The Jets are in a perfect position to work this draft in their favor…for once. They are in dire need of picks to help build for the future around Sam Darnold. It order to do so, they must trade down, but not out of the top 10.