Rich Cimini, ESPN Staff Writer 9y

Mailbag: Will Jets trade up for Marcus Mariota?

Due to demand, we'll have another New York Jets mailbag on Sunday. Popular team, these Jets.

@RichCimini: I'd be stunned if that happens. I wouldn't be surprised if they take Marcus Mariota at six, but trading up is a different animal. Consider: The Washington Redskins moved up from six to two in 2012 to select Robert Griffin III, and it cost them three first-round picks (2012, 2013, 2014) and a second-round choice. Mariota is a good prospect, but he's not a can't-miss, Andrew Luck-type guy. The Tennessee Titans, currently holding the second pick, may receive numerous offers, so there would be a bidding war. The Jets would have to trade their entire draft, based on the draft value chart -- and even that probably wouldn't get it done. Chances are, they'd have to surrender at least one future No. 1 pick, maybe more. They'd be mortgaging their future for one player, and that's risky.

@RichCimini: Obviously, you're referring to Randy Gregory, who tested positive for marijuana at the scouting combine. More than that, he admitted he was a habitual user at Nebraska. As for your question, none of the edge players are ideal fits. They're all 6-foot-3 (Dante Fowler Jr. is actually a shade under), not the prototypical length you're looking for in a 3-4 outside linebacker. Vic Beasley has short arms, another concern for scouts. Shane Ray was tremendously productive at Missouri, but a closer look reveals that many of his sacks came against lesser competition. I'm not saying the Jets won't draft one of these players -- all top-15 talents -- but when you're sixth overall, you have to be careful not to force a pick to fill a need.

@RichCimini: This is a fair question, but I don't think you're going to like my answer. I don't think any of the minimum-salary additions will make an impact. We're talking about backup-type players, most of them over 30, some of them with injury issues. If you really press me for an answer, I'd say Kevin Vickerson and Stephen Bowen. I don't think the Jets will draft a defensive lineman, so these guys will get first dibs on the backup job. But, again, we're not talking about front-line players here. We're talking 15 to 20 snaps a game, maybe.

@RichCimini: They're not committed to any position, I can tell you that. You raise an interesting point because there's a very good chance that Amari Cooper or Kevin White will be available. If Mariota is gone, do you take the receiver? Mike Maccagnan says he will take the best player. Well, I think most folks will tell you Cooper and White are top-5 talents, probably ahead of the pass rushers. The Jets have a nice receiving trio with Brandon Marshall, Eric Decker and Jeremy Kerley, but I have to think they'd consider a receiver (especially Cooper) is he's the top guy available. It would be a tight squeeze, but let's not forget there's no financial commitment to Marshall beyond this year. It could be done.

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