Silverman: Jets Gotta Get Moving On A Quarterback, Like Immediately

By Steve Silverman
» More Columns

The Jets need a quarterback and they have the No. 20 pick in the draft. They are in a position to select a signal-caller who has a chance to line up under center for years to come.

There has been speculation that the quarterback they will be able to choose is Paxton Lynch of Memphis. But the 6-foot-7 potential leader is much more likely to be taken earlier by a team that is willing to trade up and move ahead of teams like the Bills and Jets.

I'm not saying that Lynch will be a sure-fire success in the NFL, but the value of quarterbacks relative to a franchise success seems to go up on draft day every single year. Lynch has many question marks, and the fact that he threw so many quick-release, short passes in the Memphis offense is one of them. He has not necessarily proven that he has the consistency to be an effective player at the next level.

If the Jets are going to draft a quarterback, they have an opportunity to select Connor Cook of Michigan State. While they may want to play the draft game and trade down later in the first round to do it, it seems quite clear that the Denver Broncos will use the No. 31 pick in the first round to select Cook.

Management has not embraced Ryan Fitzpatrick, so the Jets need to do something to secure their future under center. Cook, a three-year starter who has proven that he can handle big-game pressure, would appear to be a winning alternative.

The Giants are not in the quarterback market, and they have spent much of the offseason trying to improve their defense. They can continue to get better on that side of the ball by making a significant effort to get better in the running game.

If the Giants can add a superb back like Ezekiel Elliott or a big offensive tackle who can open significant holes, they will help the defense by giving it a chance to rest in the second half.

Elliott is the only running back who is worthy of a top-10 pick, in my opinion. The Giants have the No. 10 pick, but they may not be able to select Elliott. He could get selected in the 7, 8 or 9 spots, and that could mean that Big Blue would have to "settle" for Michigan State offensive tackle Jack Conklin, who has the size and good feet to play either right or left tackle.

The NFL Draft is like Opening Day in baseball. All 32 teams are full of hope that they can find the right combination of players that will be cornerstones for years to come.

While it's not just about the first round, that's where it starts. General managers who hit on their first-round choices have a much better chance of delivering a playoff-ready roster to their head coach and staying employed for years to come.

Trades are quite likely in Thursday's first round, and here's how I see the initial round of the draft playing out:

1. Los Angeles Rams, QB Jared Goff, California
2. Philadelphia Eagles, QB Carson Wentz, North Dakota State
3. San Diego Chargers, DE DeForest Buckner, Clemson
4. Dallas Cowboys, DE Joey Bosa, Ohio State
5. Jacksonville Jaguars, OLB Myles Jack, UCLA
6. Baltimore Ravens, OT Laremy Tunsil, Ole Miss
7. San Francisco 49ers, CB Jalen Ramsey, Florida State
8. Cleveland Browns, RB Ezekiel Elliott, Ohio State
9. Tampa Bay Buccaneers, OT Ronnie Stanley, Notre Dame
10. New York Giants, OT Jack Conklin, Michigan State
11. Chicago Bears, CB Vernon Hargreaves, Florida
12. New Orleans Saints, DT Sheldon Rankins, Louisville
13. Miami Dolphins, QB Paxton Lynch, Memphis
14. Oakland Raiders, OLB Leonard Floyd, Georgia
15. Tennessee Titans, OT Taylor Decker, Ohio State
16. Detroit Lions, LB Reggie Ragland, Alabama
17. Atlanta Falcons, DE Shaq Lawson, Clemson
18. Indianapolis Colts, CB Eli Apple, Ohio State
19. Buffalo Bills, CB William Jackson III, Houston
20. New York Jets, OLB Darron Lee, Ohio State
21. Washington Redskins, DT A'Shawn Robinson, Alabama
22. Houston Texans, DT Jarran Reed, Alabama
23. Minnesota Vikings, WR Corey Coleman, Baylor
24. Cincinnati Bengals, WR Josh Doctson, TCU
25. Pittsburgh Steelers, CB Mackensie Alexander, Clemson
26. Seattle Seahawks, DT Robert Nkemdiche, Ole Miss
27. Green Bay Packers, DT Chris Jones, Mississippi State
28. Kansas City Chiefs, CB Artie Burns, Miami (Fla.)
29. Arizona Cardinals, DE Noah Spence, Eastern Kentucky
30. Carolina Panthers, DT Vernon Butler, Louisiana Tech
31. Denver Broncos, QB Connor Cook, Michigan State

Follow Steve on Twitter at @ProFootballBoy

In:
• New York Jets