The big options
The Jets’ 23-20 win over the Rams made the job of general manager Joe Douglas a bit tougher this offseason. Drafting Clemson quarterback Trevor Lawrence with the No. 1-overall pick would have been an easy call. If the Jets wind up with the No. 2 pick, Douglas faces some choices. Here is a look at some of his options if the Jets pick second:
1. Draft the best quarterback available and trade Sam Darnold. Ohio State’s Justin Fields and BYU’s Zach Wilson are both in contention to be the top quarterback taken after Lawrence. Neither is considered to be the can’t-miss prospect that Lawrence is, but they both are thought of highly in NFL circles and one could really emerge in the pre-draft process. If the Jets deal Darnold, they probably could get a second-round pick plus a late-round pick.
2. Trade the pick and keep Darnold. If Douglas is not sold on any of the quarterback prospects in this draft, he could hold onto Darnold, who is under contract for one more year, and try to land a huge package of picks. In 2016, the Eagles traded two first-round picks, a second-round pick, a third-round pick and a fourth-rounder to the Browns to move up to No. 2 and take Carson Wentz. A package like that would accelerate Douglas’ roster rebuild.
3. Take the best non-quarterback available and keep Darnold. The Jets need help all over their roster. Landing an elite player here is not the worst option. Oregon tackle Penei Sewell is the top non-quarterback in this draft. Would the Jets take tackles in the first round in back-to-back years? It would be unusual to draft a right tackle this high, but the Jets could have bookends with Sewell and Mekhi Becton. Other options here are Alabama WR DeVonta Smith, LSU WR Ja’Marr Chase and Penn State LB Micah Parsons.
4. Sign a veteran quarterback and either trade the pick or use it on a non-quarterback. There are not a lot of great veteran options expected to hit the market, so this is unlikely. Would Douglas trade for Wentz, whom he knows from his time with the Eagles? It seems unlikely he would want to trade any draft picks right now and take on that contract.
Andy Dalton, Jacoby Brissett, Philip Rivers, Ryan Fitzpatrick, Jameis Winston and Mitch Trubisky all could be available.