NY Jets draft capital could provide ultimate roster-building flexibility

It’s been another frustrating season for the NY Jets in Florham Park. However, as always in the NFL, there is a silver lining to losing games: high draft capital and hope for a prosperous future. In the Jets’ case, this couldn’t be more true.

The Jets currently own two top-five picks in April’s draft: their own (No. 4 overall) and the Seahawks' (No. 5 overall). Unexpected struggles this season by Seattle, one of the NFL’s most successful franchises over the last decade, have left Jets faithful even more optimistic than usual.

Having two top five picks would offer the front office immense flexibility to be creative with the avenues they use to build a roster that is currently devoid of talent. From a team building perspective, let’s take a look at all those possibilities.

1. The NY Jets could stand pat and select two players

This is the most obvious option for the Jets. With two premium picks, the Jets would have their choice of two of the top college football players in the country. Selecting two high-end talents would (hopefully) allow the Jets to fill two needs and continue to develop the young core of this roster.

Of course, they’d be trusting in their own ability to evaluate talent and select the right players, which always comes with inherent risk, no matter where you pick.

Joe Douglas appears to have had a good 2021 NFL Draft, and if he stays put and selects two players, it would be huge for the overall outlook of the roster.

It would also give the Jets two young contributors on cost-controlled rookie contracts for four years (five years if they exercise the team option that is available for all former first-round picks), allowing the team to have more flexibility with how they spend money in free agency.

 2. The NY Jets could trade down and acquire more draft capital

Having two picks within the top-five not only represents value to your own team, but is attractive to the other 31 clubs as well. All NFL teams hold top-five and top-10 picks in high regards, as it represents an opportunity to add a player that, in theory, should step in right away and make an impact.

Once you get outside of the top-10, the volatility and uncertainty of the pick increases. The Jets could (and surely would) dangle at least one of these picks to any team that calls with interest.

The hypothetical scenarios and potential assets they could acquire are endless, but one thing is certain: the other 31 clubs will have interest in giving Douglas a call to discuss a trade.

It stands to reason that Gang Green will use at least one of these picks to select a player, as they need more high end talent. But having two picks in a similar range of value represents opportunity to add more ammo for later in the 2022 NFL Draft or future years.

3. The NY Jets could put together a package to move up in the draft

While the Jets are currently slated to own two high picks, it may not be high enough for the potential prospect they view as a franchise-altering player.

Take Oregon edge rusher Kayvon Thibodeaux for example — even if the Jets do own a pick as high as No. 4, they might not be high enough to get him (in the scenario they viewed him as a can’t-miss player).

Having two valuable picks makes them a lot more attractive for a team in front of them looking to acquire more draft capital. The Detroit Lions, for example, (potential occupants of the No. 1 overall pick), under first-year general manager Brad Holmes, have many holes to fill and could want to move down.

The Chicago Bears did this in 2017 when they moved up from pick No. 3 to No. 2 to ensure they got Mitch Trubisky. Yikes, Chicago.

This scenario seems a lot less likely than the other two given most moves like this are made for a quarterback, something the Jets presumably won’t be in the market for in April. However, it is still an option on the table if there is a player the Jets decision makers are in love with.

4. The NY Jets could use a pick or two to trade for a current NFL player

Not only does draft capital represent assets to be able to move up in the draft, but it can be used to trade for a current NFL player if the Jets feel like there’s a golden opportunity to add a difference-maker.

Every year, both before the new league year begins in March and leading up to the draft in April, there are impact players that move from team to team via trade.

If the Jets feel like there’s a player available that could step in and make a major impact, one (or both) of these picks could be used to acquire said player.

While there’s risk associated with every move, this represents slightly less risk as the player acquired already has proven he can perform at a high level against NFL competition.

This doesn’t seem as likely a scenario as No. 1 or No. 2 either, since the Jets are more than one player away from contention.

No matter what Jets brass decides to do, the options are limitless. With each game that they and the Seahawks lose, the value of those picks and the manner at which they can be used increases.

That, Jets fans, is worth being excited about.