As the NFL Draft nears, team executives and coaches typically become even less transparent than usual out of fear of disclosing crucial information. However, recently hired New York Jets general manager Mike Maccagnan appears to prefer a different approach. According to NFL.com's Conor Orr, Maccagnan plans to have discussions with teams about the possibility and cost of trading up.
Jets exploring trade up in the 2015 NFL Draft?
That doesn’t mean the team will make a deal, however.
Maccagnan met with reporters Friday for his pre-draft press conference. The Jets, who hold the No. 6 overall pick, aren’t necessarily looking to move up into a higher draft slot. However, the right offer could persuade the team to get aggressive.
Trades among teams with top-10 picks aren't entirely uncommon. Last year, the Buffalo Bills moved up from No. 9 to grab Clemson wide receiver Sammy Watkins. However, that deal cost the Bills their first- and fourth-round pick in the 2015 NFL Draft. Maccagnan may not be willing to part with quite so many assets.
“We’re going to reach out to every team ahead of us and gauge the value of what they’re looking for in compensation to move up in the draft,” he said. “That doesn’t mean we’re actually trying to go up necessarily and get a player but you hear what the market value is basically, and then what you do is see what unfolds with the first few picks and who is available. We’ll have that discussion when we get to the draft -- if we want to move up in the draft.
“Philosophically, I’m not opposed to moving up in the draft to get a player if you feel if a player is going to be an extremely good player. ... I would personally want to (acquire more talent).”
Yet Maccagnan’s willingness to trade up isn’t the only interesting nugget he dropped at his presser. The GM also confirmed that the team uses a variant of Jimmy Johnson’s draft pick trade chart, a system developed over 20 years ago. Moreover, Maccagnan said he has sent a copy of the chart to every team to give them insight as to how he values picks.
If the Jets do trade up this year, it could be for Oregon quarterback Marcus Mariota. Currently, the team's depth chart features journeyman Ryan Fitzpatrick, 2014 starter Geno Smith and former undrafted free agent Matt Simms. The Jets last traded up for a quarterback in 2009, the year they selected Mark Sanchez.
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