1) Potential QB trade targets for the Jets. With mock drafters far and wide projecting the Raiders to select Indiana QB Fernando Mendoza first overall, the intrigue in this year’s draft starts with the Jets, who hold the second pick.
While the team clearly has a massive need at QB, Jeremiah said he doesn’t see another passer in the draft worthy of a selection at No. 2, and he’s not so sure taking one with any of their next three picks (Nos. 16, 33 and 44) would make sense for the franchise, either.
Instead, Jeremiah said the Jets should be kicking the tires on a couple veteran backups to gauge their availability on the trade market: the Eagles’ Tanner McKee and the Texans’ Davis Mills.
“Those are a couple guys I’d be curious about taking a flyer on for a year if you can trade a mid-round pick,” he said. “I don’t think I would lean in the direction of the draft for their quarterback this year. I think they will be all in for that next year.”
The best route for the Jets to take in the draft this year might be to build in the trenches and collect as much capital as possible for next year along the way.
“If you go into next year with a bunch of picks, and your offensive and defensive lines are in good shape, and you can find your quarterback of the future at that point in time, I think that’s the right way to go,” he said. “Who knows, maybe you hit the lottery on one of these younger veterans you could try to get.”
2) Draft prospect with the most to gain. If the Jets do take Jeremiah’s suggested route, they would be passing on Alabama’s Ty Simpson. He’s the consensus QB2 in the class after leading the Tide to the quarterfinals of the College Football Playoff in his lone season as a starter.
Jeremiah sees the redshirt junior as the prospect with the most at stake between now and draft day. He’s ranked Simpson the No. 40 player available, but Jeremiah said he’s not ruling out a much earlier slotting for the Bama QB, who saw his play tail off while he battled injuries down the stretch last season.
“I wouldn’t be stunned if he ended up going in the first round because there are enough teams in need at the position,” Jeremiah said.
Simpson, the son of a college head coach, is expected to fare well in interviews with teams leading up to the draft, per Jeremiah, but QB-needy squads like the Jets, Cardinals, Browns, Dolphins and Steelers have a big question to examine between now and the start of Round 1 on April 23: Did injuries cause Simpson’s struggles or did he get exposed late last season?
