Account
NFL Rumors: Jets Have Received 'Very Little Interest' in Trade for No. 2 Draft Pick
April 7, 2021
The New York Jets have reportedly received "very little interest" in potential trades for the No. 2 overall pick ahead of the 2021 NFL draft, which begins April 29.
Ian Rapoport of the NFL Network reported Wednesday the Jets have fielded "few" calls about the second selection:
It's likely a moot point now that New York has traded quarterback Sam Darnold, the third overall pick in the 2018 draft, to the Carolina Panthers. The move signaled the front office is in the market for a new franchise signal-caller and the 2021 class features several options.
Clemson's Trevor Lawrence is expected to land with the Jacksonville Jaguars at No. 1. That will leave the Jets their choice from a group featuring BYU's Zach Wilson, Ohio State's Justin Fields, Alabama's Mac Jones and North Dakota State's Trey Lance.
Jets general manager Joe Douglas told Al Iannazzone of Newsday there was "never any meaningful discussions about pick No. 2" in trade talks before the Darnold swap, and he didn't downplay the odds they'll take a QB with the pick.
"I think that's a fair assessment to say based on the decision we made [Monday]," Douglas said. "You can kind of see the direction we're heading. When it comes to pick two, never say never. Like I've said to you guys in the past, I'll always answer the phone if it's ringing."
New York's other option would have been to keep Darnold and then seek out a potential trade down that could have landed them a combination of players and future picks to help retool their roster.
Darnold hadn't lived up to expectations as a top-five pick, however. He'd thrown 45 touchdowns and 39 interceptions across 38 games through three seasons with the Jets.
So with a highly touted group of quarterback prospects available in the draft, the front office has decided to move in a new direction.
Wilson is the most likely choice after a standout junior season with the Cougars that saw him complete 73.5 percent of his throws for 3,692 yards with 33 touchdowns and just three interceptions in 12 appearances. He has all the tools to become a Day 1 starter for New York.
"Great staff. Love those guys," Wilson told reporters about the Jets after his Pro Day workout last month. "Joe Douglas is a great guy. It was good to see him out here. They've got a good thing going."
Whether it's Wilson or one of the other quarterbacks, the Jets' front office is under a lot of pressure to make the right choice to accelerate efforts to end the team's 10-year playoff drought.