The NY Jets remain interested in quarterbacks with less than a month left to the NFL draft and the team has met with or has planned workouts with all the top prospects, including Marcus Mariota, Jameis Winston, Bryce Petty and Brett Hundley and this comes as Amari Cooper is another potential target in the top 10.
The Jets have Geno Smith and Ryan Fitzpatrick as the top quarterbacks on the roster and there has been plenty of talk in the NY media that the team will consider trading for Mariota. The Tennessee Titans have the number two overall pick this year and Pro Football Talk reports that the team is considering trading the selection. Jameis Winston is expected to go number one overall and that would allow whoever has the number two pick to take Mariota.
According to the New York Post, head coach in Todd Bowles and a general manager in Mike Maccagnan have both said that the team will look at quarterbacks in the draft. If the team misses out on Mariota, they could look at players like Bryce Petty, Brett Hundley or Shane Carden as potential prospects. Smith is set to be the starter in offseason workouts, as Fitzpatrick is banged up and will not be ready.
Mariota is getting a ton of attention heading into the draft and according to Pro Football Talk, the Browns have "real interest" in moving up to get Mariota. Many scouts have Mariota as the number two quarterback, but draft expert Mike Mayock thinks that Mariota can be just as good as Winston.
The team wants a franchise quarterback and with Johnny Manziel not looking like a real option, Ray Farmer could jump up for Mariota, as the Browns have two first round picks. The team has picks 12 and 19 in the first round and they may have to use one of those and a future pick to move up. The Titans have the number two pick and teams like the Jets, Chargers and Bears have emerged as potential options for Mariota.
The NY Jets have signed free agent Stevan Ridley after meeting with the running back last week and now the team is heading into the draft with Marcus Mariota as a potential target, as they have the number six overall pick and could look at trading up to take the quarterback.
The Jets have been looking to add depth at running back after not bringing back Chris Johnson and now they have signed Stevan Ridley to a deal. According to Pro Football Talk, Ridley is signing a one year deal with the Jets and this comes after he met with the Washington Redskins and Miami Dolphins this offseason. Ridley is coming off of an ACL injury and he played in just six games last year with the Patriots.
Ridley is 26-years-old and now he joins a backfield with Chris Ivory and Bilal Powell for the Jets. Last season Ridley had 340 yards and two touchdowns for the Patriots and his best season was back in 2012 when he had a career best 1263 yards and 12 touchdowns. The Jets have a new regime in place and after adding Brandon Marshall in a trade and signing Darrelle Revis, the team thinks it's ready for a return to the playoffs, or at least the postseason race.