The New York Jets are on the clock for the 2021 NFL Draft.
It’s a foregone conclusion the Jacksonville Jaguars will use the No. 1 pick overall on Clemson quarterback Trevor Lawrence.
So Jets general manager Joe Douglas must decide if he will trade Sam Darnold and use the No. 2 pick on a new franchise QB (BYU’s Zach Wilson or Ohio State’s Justin Fields), keep the No. 2 pick and get some help for Darnold (Oregon tackle Penei Sewell or Alabama wide receiver DeVonta Smith), or keep Darnold and trade the No. 2 pick to move down the board and stockpile selections.
The Boston Globe’s Ben Volin reports “there is increasing buzz the Jets are going to roll with Sam Darnold and his $920,000 salary this year, and build up the pieces around him instead of drafting a QB. Considering how many teams are hot for the top quarterback prospects, Douglas might be able to get a haul for No. 2 to add to his collection of draft picks. For a Jets team that is rebuilding from scratch, that scenario has to be very tempting.”
Keep in mind, the Jets already own six of the first 98 selections in the 2021 NFL Draft thanks to the Jamal Adams trade. And they will have close to $70 million to spend in free agency, providing Douglas with a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to rebuild the organization from top to bottom and inside out.
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Mike Rosenstein may be reached at mrosenstein@njadvancemedia.com. Tell us your coronavirus story or send a tip here.