Rich Cimini, ESPN Staff Writer 6y

Josh Allen? Josh Rosen? Trade up again? Jets have options with No. 3 pick

Now that the New York Jets own the third pick in the draft, let's examine their options and the fallout:

1. Pick the top quarterback on their board: Ding, ding, ding! This is why they made the trade with the Indianapolis Colts. You don't trade three premium picks (two 2018 second-rounders and a 2019 second-rounder) to select a running back (Saquon Barkley). This trade was all about drafting their heir apparent at quarterback.

Clearly, the Jets have three quarterbacks they believe are worth the third pick. My sense, from talking to personnel people around the league, is that Josh Allen, Sam Darnold and Josh Rosen (in no particular order) are the three. What about Baker Mayfield?

General manager Mike Maccagnan recently called Mayfield "a prolific and productive college quarterback," but Maccagnan's track record shows he prefers a prototypical pocket passer -- big body and big arm. For all his playmaking ability, Mayfield is only 6 feet tall. It would be unconventional to take a 6-foot quarterback with the third pick. My hunch is that Maccagnan and coach Todd Bowles wouldn't be fans of the Mayfield sideshow.

It'll be a fascinating decision. One AFC scout said Saturday, "Darnold is probably the best, Rosen is more polished and Allen has more upside." Rosen is the most pro-ready of the three, many scouts believe, but there are questions about his durability and passion for football. As for his physical skills, the scout said, "He's a legit passer."

Allen has a freakishly strong arm, but he's considered a project. He was a 56 percent passer in college, and that's a concern. Darnold was a turnover machine last season, but he checks all the boxes in terms of physical skill and mental makeup.

The evaluation process isn't over. The Jets have private workouts scheduled with each player, and the Darnold and Allen pro days are coming up.

2. Another trade up? It's not likely, but it hasn't been ruled out, I'm told, especially if they believe one or two quarterbacks are a notch above the rest. The downside: After dealing three picks, the Jets are running low on draft capital. I mean, they need to draft some players.

Consider: The Chicago Bears jumped from No. 3 to No. 2 last year to draft Mitchell Trubisky, and it cost them three picks -- third- and fourth-rounders, plus a 2018 third-rounder. The crosstown rival New York Giants own the second pick, which would make for an interesting trade. Strange bedfellows, right?

Could they move up to No. 1? The Jets contacted the Cleveland Browns before swinging the Colts deal, according to Cleveland.com. Chances are, the price would be too rich for the Jets' blood and it can be argued that no quarterback in this draft is worth that much.

3. Trade back? Very unlikely, although it's worth noting they'll probably get some intriguing offers for the pick, which will increase in value as we get closer to the draft. But think about it: The Jets would be a laughingstock if they trade back and miss out on a quarterback.

4. The odd men out: Saturday's trade probably means the end of former draft picks Christian Hackenberg and Bryce Petty, assuming they use the third pick on a quarterback. The depth chart would consist of Josh McCown, Teddy Bridgewater and a rookie. In theory, they could go to camp with Hackenberg or Petty as insurance -- Bridgewater is a wild card because of his surgically repaired knee -- but what's the point? The No. 4 quarterback gets no reps. It's time to make a clean break.

5. Current draft picks: After the trade, the Jets are left with the following picks: first round (No. 3 overall), third round (72), fourth round (107), fifth round (157), sixth round (179) and seventh round (235).

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