DARN’ TOUGH

It’s early, but so far Colts won trade that brought Sam to Jets

Six weeks before the 2018 NFL draft, there was a sense of urgency on 1 Jets Drive. The Bills were lurking. Kirk Cousins had just spurned Gang Green’s push in free agency, leaving this star-crossed franchise with two choices: A) Sit around and stew or B) make a bold, fast decision that could provide prosperity for the next decade.

The Jets might have still been seething over losing the Cousins Sweepstakes, but swift, deliberate action was required now. So, they pulled the trigger on what they hoped would be the most monumental deal in franchise history.

Hindsight hasn’t provided complete clarity. A giant question looms.

Who won the Jets-Colts trade that brought Sam Darnold here?

The Jets parted with three second-round picks (two in 2018 and one in 2019) to inch up three spots from No. 6 with the hope that they’d land their franchise quarterback. Jets brass believed all along that they were moving up for Heisman Trophy winner Baker Mayfield. Darnold, they suspected, would be the top overall pick.

Browns general manager John Dorsey fooled everyone, taking the brash Oklahoma quarterback at

No. 1 and setting up the happiest day of Mike Maccagnan’s professional life. The Giants locked in on Saquon Barkley with the second selection before the Jets were home free.

It was Darnold. It was always going to be Darnold if he magically fell to them.

But was it the right move?

Or did Indianapolis pull a fast one on a perpetually lost outfit?

The early returns are undeniable, even if the race isn’t over. The Colts, who will host the Jets on Sunday, made a savvy decision that restocked their roster.

Indianapolis drafted three fulltime starters, including two offensive linemen on what has become arguably the best group in the league. They also added a starting cornerback, explosive edge rusher (sidelined by injury) and running back depth.

At this point, would you rather have Darnold or two-time All-Pro Quenton Nelson, Braden Smith, Kemoko Turay, Rock Ya-Sin and Jordan Wilkins? (The Colts traded out of the Jets’ second 2018 second-rounder to ultimately land Turay and Wilkins).

Nelson is as advertised. Canton will come calling one day. Smith, who played guard in college, has 32 consecutive starts at right tackle.

Ya-Sin, who was hospitalized last week with a stomach illness, had impressive highs and forgettable lows in pass coverage as a rookie. He played a team-high 853 defensive snaps in his first season.

The Jets tried to get that pick back (No. 34 overall) at the start of the second day of the 2019 draft. They wanted to trade up, but the Colts stood pat and took Ya-Sin.

Turay, who had four sacks and 13 quarterback hits as a rookie, was off to a promising start (1.5 sacks, 5 QB hits) last season off the edge before fracturing and dislocating his ankle while sacking Patrick Mahomes. He’s out for at least the first six weeks after being placed on reserve/PUP list.

Meanwhile, the Jets put all their eggs in Darnold’s basket.

In an alternate universe, Gang Green could have stood pat at No. 6 and taken Nelson themselves. But they always had their eye on a quarterback. They felt that Josh Allen, who was taken at No. 7 after Buffalo traded up, was a project. Although some folks in the organization liked Josh Rosen, there was plenty of push-back on him, too. Lamar Jackson was never a serious consideration.

So, what could the Jets have done?

Hindsight makes most people look like fools, but the Jets could have taken their chances with Teddy Bridgewater, while drafting Nelson if they were dead set against Allen or Rosen.

In that scenario, Gang Green would have also had the Nos. 37 and 49 picks in the second round with players like Smith, wide receivers Courtland Sutton and D.J. Chark and tight end Dallas Goedert, who was taken by the Eagles after the Colts traded the No. 49 selection, still available.

The Jets would have also still had the No. 34 pick in the 2019 draft that they tried to get back a year later. Offensive tackle Jawaan Taylor and wide receivers Deebo Samuel and A.J. Brown were available.

Gang Green, who tried to move up from No. 68, had a deal in place with the Eagles at No. 57 to land speedy receiver Mecole Hardman. But the Chiefs foiled that plan by jumping over Philly and making a trade with the Rams to get Hardman at No. 56.

At No. 68, the Jets settled for pass rusher Jachai Polite, who was cut after his first training camp.

But the Jets were always eyeing a quarterback. So, Rosen or Allen would have been their pick if they couldn’t move up from No. 6, assuming Mayfield and Darnold were gone. Regardless, the three second-rounders could have helped in a big way.

Darnold has special traits, but is hardly a sure thing with this organization. The people who drafted him are gone, replaced by a group that has shown no sense of urgency in giving him help during this critical stage of his development.

At a time when teams across the league are providing as many weapons as possible for their young quarterbacks, Jets brass is asking their 23-year-old signal caller to be Superman to stay afloat. It’s an unfortunate reality that could cause irreparable damage to the talented young player.

So, was it worth it?

Did the Jets make the right decision to trade with the Colts?

The Colts are moving in the right direction, while the Jets are waiting for Darnold to save all their derrieres.