Coffee with the Jets: Trading up in NFL Draft will be an option

In this edition of Coffee with the New York Jets, Mike Maccagnan has confirmed he’d trade up if needed for a quarterback they strongly wanted to draft, Kevin Mawae being a Pro Football Hall of Fame finalist yet again, and a no playoff mandate in 2018.

For those of you in New York like myself, here’s to dealing with the “bomb cyclone” of a snowstorm over these next few days. Hopefully, everyone is safe and sound when this passes through. When it comes to the latest on the New York Jets, they’re gearing up for the long offseason ahead and hoping to bolster their roster to continue rebuilding the right way.

General manager Mike Maccagnan will have his work cut out for him but recently said that when it comes to the No. 6 overall pick in the 2018 NFL Draft, he will consider trading up for a quarterback if needed. Not only does this open up doors and conversations with other general managers in the NFL but proves that the quarterback position is a top priority for him to finally address.

In case you didn’t know, my Coffee with the Jets articles include several of the latest articles around Gang Green for your reading pleasure. Needless to say, these go perfectly with a hot cup of coffee.

Jets GM says he’s open to trading up for a quarterback by Rich Cimini (ESPN)

“The simple answer to that question is yes,” Maccagnan said. “If that was a player we felt strong about, we would have no qualms of potentially trying to go up and get him.”

The truth of the matter is, the Jets need to not only draft a potential franchise quarterback but also double down and acquire a top one via free agency. When a team doesn’t have a definitive answer at the most important position on the roster, they need to keep bringing in more players until they find that diamond in the rough. That’s why until a team has a player they can build around for the next decade or so, they must keep drafting, acquiring, developing, and well, hoping they eventually find “the guy” under center.

Kevin Mawae Is Hall of Fame Finalist Again by Randy Lange (New York Jets)

Mawae has the strongest Jets connection in this year’s pool of finalists. Last year, when he was named as the latest member to join the Jets’ Ring of Honor, he proclaimed, “I’m a New York Jet now and I always will be.”

Center Kevin Mawae brings back a lot of memories not only for myself but countless others in Jets Nation. He was an anchor on the offensive line for such a long time, he not only deserved to be in the Jets Ring of Honor but will eventually get his name enshrined forever in the Pro Football Hall of Fame. He didn’t make it last year but should have a strong shot at making it in 2018 and best of all, he’d make it as a member of the Jets.

More from The Jet Press

• NY Jets: Jonnu Smith would be a smart free-agent target
• NY Jets: 3 non-quarterback trade targets on offense
• NY Jets expected to be ‘much more aggressive’ in free agency this year
• NY Jets: Patriots will not use the franchise tag on Joe Thuney
• NY Jets officially place the franchise tag on safety Marcus Maye

Jets’ Acting Owner Christopher Johnson: ‘No Mandate’ to Make Playoffs in 2018 by Tim Daniels (Bleacher Report)

“I have no mandate,” Johnson said. “Believe me, I want to get to the playoffs. I want to build a team with Mike and Todd that can compete for the playoffs every year. That can’t happen fast enough. But there’s no mandate.”

In the grand scheme of things, it’s good that owner Chris Johnson made sure that there isn’t a “playoffs or bust” mandate for next season. Rebuilding doesn’t happen overnight and especially not in just one year. It takes at minimum two, maybe even three years tops before everything comes together then such a mandate can be in place. Patience is needed as the Jets continue to rebuild the right way through youth, quality veterans, and setting a foundation of excellence. Plus a team can’t make it and succeed in the NFL Playoffs unless they have a franchise quarterback. Until the Jets get that figured out, they’ll always be on the outside looking in when it comes to being a contending team.