The NFL draft is coming up and the NY Jets are one team that could look to trade up in the first round or later on, as the team may look at names like Mike Evans, Sammy Watkins, Khalil Mack or Jadeveon Clowney as potential targets, while John Idzik could use some of those 12 picks to move and take a receiver like Brandin Cooks, Marqise Lee or Odell Beckham.
The Jets are coming into the draft with fewer needs than they had when the season ended, as they signed both Eric Decker and Chris Johnson to deals along with Michael Vick, but there are still plenty of positions that have holes to fill depth wise. The biggest issue for the Jets over the past few years has been skill position players and while they started fixing that this offseason, the draft could be an option for the team to add more weapons. GM John Idzik comes into the draft with 12 picks in his arsenal and they can use that to move up or down in any of the rounds and that includes the first round. The team may not look to trade up all the way into the top 10, as players like Sammy Watkins or Mike Evans could be gone, but reports have the team loving Evans and they would like to draft him if possible.
According to Pro Football Talk, the Jets likely will trade picks at some point, as they don't have room to sign 12 players and Idzik said the team has some flexibility to make moves because of all the picks. The team has four compensatory picks that can't be moved, but those picks also give them flexibility to use the other picks, which includes a second fourth rounder after the Darrelle Revis trade. In a draft like this, mid-round picks are valuable since the class is so deep and that is one area where the Jets have set themselves up.
The team could look at tight end after Kellen Winslow left, as Jeff Cumberland is solid but not a star and names like Jace Amaro and Eric Ebron could be in the mix, while Austin Seferian-Jenkins is also rising on boards. The running back position is very deep this season as well and names like Andre Williams and Tre Mason could be options to pair with Johnson, who is coming to the team after he was released by the Titans and while he is coming back from a knee injury, it could be an explosive duo if he's healthy.
The wideout position is most interesting, as there is plenty of talent past Evans and Watkins, including Cody Latimer from Indiana as well as Lee and Cooks, who each have very good speed and hands. Cooks was very productive last season with over 120 catches and 1,800 yards and he could be a nice option for Geno Smith or Michael Vick in the offense. The team was interested in signing DeSean Jackson this offseason and Cooks fits that mold of a small and fast receiver that could be great in the slot.
