New York Jets and Browns should work on draft day trade

Several years ago the New York Jets worked out a trade with the Cleveland Browns on draft day and it could be in the works again in 2016.

There is a lot of smoke and mirrors that have to be filtered through when you’re hearing rumors and reports heading into the 2016 NFL Draft. Though one particular rumor has been picking up a lot of traction as of late concerning the Cleveland Browns and their affinity for trading draft picks.

Let’s rewind the clock back to the 2009 NFL Draft, the New York Jets were fresh off of a disappointing campaign with one Brett Favre and after the season he had decided to retire, again. The Jets fired their head coach Eric Mangini and brought in a lightening rod in Rex Ryan.

Jan 13, 2016; Berea, OH, USA; Cleveland Browns new head coach Hue Jackson (left) and Vice President of Football Operations Sashi Brown talk during a press conference at the Cleveland Browns training facility. Mandatory Credit: Ken Blaze-USA TODAY Sports

Ironically enough Mangini ended up landing with the Browns as their next head coach and his team held the fifth overall draft selection while the Jets held the 17th pick in the draft. Ryan was ready to make a move at the quarterback position believing his team was in a win-now mode and he desperately needed somebody to hold the fort down at the quarterback position.

So on draft day when the Browns were on the clock, they orchestrated a trade in which the Jets received the fifth overall pick which they used on one popular California quarterback in Mark Sanchez. Now the Jets and the Browns have the opportunity to work out another draft day deal that could land the Jets another California quarterback destined for Broadway.

There is more & more smoke around Cleveland being willing to deal 2nd pick and draft QB in 2nd round. Something big will happen inside top 5

— Lance Zierlein (@LanceZierlein) April 12, 2016

According to Lance Zierlein, NFL Draft analyst, he thinks something big is going down in the top five. Could the Jets be infatuated with Jared Goff? They had him in for a visit this week and they have an obvious void at the quarterback position.

The problem is if the Jets do in fact work out a trade with Cleveland, they won’t be so lucky this time. Sometimes it is hard to remember back so many years ago, but when the Jets and Browns agreed to the trade and everyone saw what the Jets gave up, it didn’t seem so bad.

“The Jets acquired the pick from Cleveland and former coach Eric Mangini for their first-round pick, their second-round (No. 52), and defensive end Kenyon Coleman, safety Abram Elam and quarterback Brett Ratliff. It turned out to be the Jets’ only pick of day, but it was a biggie.” (Taken from the Associated Press via ESPN.com)

The Jets gave up a handful of average starters, a developmental quarterback and their first and second round draft choices. Typically to make a leap from 17 all the way up to fifth overall would cost a gargantuan king’s ransom. To be specific, let’s take a look at the Jimmy Johnson Draft Trade Value Chart.

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The fifth pick in the draft has a value of 1,700 points, while the 17th pick has a 950 point value and the 52nd overall pick has a 380 point value.

The players they received in the deal ended up washing out and nothing came of them.

In this hypothetical potential trade, the Jets (20th overall pick) would have to move even higher up (second overall) and from even farther back. The second overall pick value is worth 2,600 points and the Jets 20th pick is worth a measly 850 points.

The wildcard in this kind of move ends up being Muhammad Wilkerson who inevitably would be involved in this trade. But what is Wilkerson worth? A multiple time Pro Bowler, a top-five defensive lineman and a proven commodity in this league.

The trade in theory makes sense: the Browns have cap space and need to get better talent and would love more draft picks. While the Jets have the oldest starting roster in the AFC East and they need to strike while the iron is hot.

Are the Jets willing to wait it out on the Ryan Fitzpatrick front? Regardless whether Fitzpatrick comes back or not, it doesn’t seem like the Jets have their future at the position on the roster. The Jets would have to give up quite the haul to make this trade happen.

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As long as the Jets don’t mortgage the future of the team for one player then it has to be worth a shot if Goff is rated as a franchise caliber quarterback on your board. The Jets tried striking gold with the Sanchez deal so many years ago and they’re hoping they can strike a Golden Bear this time around on draft day.

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