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Florham Park – There was a published report yesterday that the Jets are looking to trade up.
The same reporter also said the Jets love LSU WR Odell Beckham.
It was Ian Rapoport of the NFL Network
Another beat writer asked me, “Do you think he got that from Idzik?”
I really don’t think so.
I don’t think he’s a leaker even to the “big guys,” so to speak. He’s not into leaking.
I think the Beckham story is coming from one of the player’s agents.
And the trade-up story is likely coming from another team or two, that Jets called, to inquire what it would take to move to their spot.
But let’s clear something up.
Those reports were lumped together in a way where some people thought Rapoport was saying the Jets would want to move into the Top 10 to pick Beckham.
These were two different angles. A trade into the Top 10 would likely be for Sammy Watkins, if he slips to the fifth spot.
Or if Khalil Mack slips.
But to trade into the Top 10 for Beckham, makes little sense.
This is an averaged-sized receiver (5-11, 198) who isn’t going to win on a lot of 50-50 balls (jump balls where he’s fighting with the DB for the football). And when he faced Florida and Alabama last season, a couple of teams that had a good pair of corners, he was shut down. Look, I’m not looking to dis the guy – he’s a terrific football player, but not a guy you move heaven and earth to move up and pick. You could stay at 18, and get comparable players like Brandin Cooks and Marqise Lee.
I’m a huge fan of Lee.
I know he had a so-so year this past season, but if you really want a better gauge on him, go back two years ago when he had 118 catches, 14 touchdowns en route to winning the Biletnikoff Award for the nation’s top receiver.
Last season, he played hurt most of the year, had instability at quarterback and on the coaching staff. I’d judge him by 2012, not 2013.
Now I know Rex loves Watkins, who he got to know pretty well because his son plays at Clemson. He is a sensational receiving prospect. It’s hard to find a weakness on the guy.
So if he slips to five, I could see the Jets trying to pull off a trade with the Oakland Raiders. Remember, Rex and a lot of scouts, have a good friend in the Raiders war room in Joey Clinkscales, the Jets former VP of college scouting. He is now the right hand man of Raiders GM Reggie McKenzie. In Clinkscale, the Jets have a buddy in the Raiders’ brass who they work with well.
Another possible trade-up could be for North Carolina tight end Eric Ebron. Reportedly, the Baltimore Ravens love Ebron. They pick at 17. So the Jets could possibly make a deal with Dallas, and move up two spots to 16, to beat Baltimore to the punch, and that kind of trade wouldn’t be too costly.
As for cornerback, reading the tea leaves around the Jets, you get the sense that they feel they have their two starters in the underrated Dimitri Patterson and Dee Milliner. And Rex loves Ras-I Dowling.
I’m not saying they don’t need to add another corner in this draft, but the perceived need isn’t as great in the Jets war room, as it’s viewed outside the building.
May 7, 2014
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