Palladino: Even If Currently Out Of Reach, Jets Smart To Visit With Goff
By Ernie Palladino
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North Dakota State's Carson Wentz is considered the best long-range quarterback prospect in the draft and wowed the coaches, scouts, and front office people at the NFL Combine.
Paxton Lynch of Memphis and Penn State's Christian Hackenberg are considered solid first-round possibilities.
But the Jets somehow decided that California's Jared Goff, judged by more than one draftnik as the first chucker who should come off the board, should be one of that talented batch to make one of the 30 pre-draft visits the league allows them.
Sure. Why not? The only thing a visit costs a franchise is a plane ticket. When it comes do doing one's due diligence, there's no sense in leaving the tires of a player who might fill a gaping need down the road unkicked, even if that special someone is projected to go in the first five picks while your team waits to go on the clock at No. 20.
It's all part of the draft process. With just over two weeks to go before the Titans most assuredly grab Mississippi tackle Laremy Tunsil to open the first round on April 28, this is no time for mathematical logic. Mike Maccagnan knows full well that moving into the top 10 would cost the Jets either a much-needed veteran or a big chunk of their future in draft picks, so it's unlikely he'd even consider a trade of that magnitude.
Given that, then, why bother?
Because Goff could fall.
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It's happened before. And that's exactly why general managers all over the NFL are working out college stars they'll probably never have a chance to get their hands on.
One never knows, though. Strange things happen sometimes.
One year -- 2005 to be exact -- another quarterback out of Cal was projected as a top 10, possibly a top five pick. Instead, the country's draft freaks sat riveted as the cameras covering the then-daytime draft captured the anguished look on his face as he fell rock-like through the first round.
Finally, after hours of emotional torture, the Packers called out Aaron Rodgers' name at No. 24.
Given that player's accomplishments since taking over for the unbreakable Brett Favre in 2008, the Packers are still counting their blessings.
Sometimes, even a drop of a single spot can set a GM's heart racing. The late Giants general manager George Young had his heart set on a certain linebacker in 1981. The few expert voices around in the days well before the draft became the spectacle it is today had his guy neck-and-neck with running back George Washington Rogers for the No. 1 overall pick.
The Giants were bad, but the Saints were worse, so Young sweated it out at No. 2. Finally, after some long, agonizing minutes, the Saints made their choice.
Rogers.
That's how Lawrence Taylor became a Giant.
It happens like that sometimes.
Whether or not a similar scenario presents itself to the Jets, it never hurts to do a little window shopping. It's just the smart thing to do.
Ryan Fitzpatrick still hasn't signed a contract. When the 33-year-old finally does, he'll only be around for a couple more years.
Geno Smith? Do we really have to talk about him?
Bryce Petty may or may not be the long-term answer. At this point, he's a gamble.
If a better young option exists, the Jets had best grab him.
If they do go quarterback instead of pass rush in the first round, Hackenberg or Lynch will likely be more available at No. 20 than Goff, which is why the Penn State product is scheduled to visit Thursday, Lynch at some point thereafter.
It wouldn't be surprising if Wentz, Goff's fellow top 10 projection, paid a call to Florham Park.
But Goff will be there, too.
It just never hurts to look at draft time.
Please follow Ernie on Twitter at @ErniePalladino
