The Jets Would Be Idiots to Trade the 6th Pick (Marcus Mariota) For Nick Foles and Draft Picks

The NFL silly season is in full swing, and just in time for the Draft Combine!

And since everyone loves chatter about QBs, and there are only two big prospects in this draft, and since one is ticketed for Tampa … expect two more months of Marcus Mariota draft banter.

Like this, from my guy Manish Mehta of the Daily News (I had him on the podcast once):

"If Marcus Mariota is there at 6, the Jets should trade down with the Eagles, and get QB Nick Foles and four draft picks (2015 1st and 2nd, 2016 1st and 2nd)."

[Grabs paper bag, takes a few deep breaths.]

The Jets don’t have a QB. Marcus Mariota projects as a better NFL QB than Nick Foles by any metric you’d like to use, and my guess is if you quizzed 30 GMs on this subject, you’d get a 21-9 split in favor of Mariota.

Nick Foles, star?

After starting a full season’s worth of games (six in 2012 and 10 in 2013) he regressed in 2014: 59 percent completions, 13 TDs, 10 INTs. Yes, I know he didn’t have DeSean Jackson. Also, he’s been injured in each of his three years in the league: Hand injury, groin, concussion, and a broken collarbone. It’s easy to deliver punishing blows to a 6-foot-6 statue, especially an indecisive one, as was the case a lot last year when he dropped back in the pocket.

Just say no to Nick Foles.

Back in early January, the stars began to align – Marcus Mariota was going to fall to the Jets. Many other mock drafts have had the same thing since, and though we’re still 10 weeks away from the draft, it’s become clear: If Chip Kelly wants Mariota, he’s got to trade up to get him, and the 6th spot makes the most sense.

But the Jets, under no circumstances, should pass on Mariota in a blockbuster deal with the Eagles. Three simple reasons:

1) Nick Foles is an unrestricted free agent after this season. Marcus Mariota would be on a rookie deal and cheap for the next few years. This is the biggest miss by Mehta. Recently, teams–Seahawks, 49ers, Panthers, Bengals, Colts–have found success with rookie QBs because they’re cheap, and you can spend elsewhere. The common theme on four of those five playoffs teams? Defense. If Foles is a disaster, you don’t want to pay him, and the GM/coach are on the chopping block, quickly. If Foles manages to put up big numbers, you have to pay him like a franchise QB. Good luck building a contender paying Nick Foles over $10 million a year.

2) Yes, the Jets need players, but they have PLENTY OF SALARY CAP ROOM! Over $48 million. It’s actually a great year for free agents, especially the positions the Jets need – cornerback, OL, LB, safety. The draft is a crapshoot. And tell me – how did the Texans do in the draft the last few years with Maccagnan in the room? Having money to spend trumps drafting kids who may not be ready to contribute for a couple years.

3) Not sure how I’m getting sucked into being an optimist here, but despite having one of the worst rosters in the league, the Jets don’t appear that far off to me. Go out and get two cornerbacks in free agency (Cromartie reunites with Bowles!), and then you’ve got Dee Milliner coming off injury. Instantly, an improved secondary frees up Bowles to do what Rex did – get creative with blitzes. If you keep Harvin, Mariota comes in with weapons: Ivory, Decker, Kerley and Amaro isn’t bad for the rookie to work with. Add a veteran guard (Iupati? Boling?) in free agency. In the draft you look for an edge rusher (great draft for that), another WR (good draft for that), and some prospects at MLB (I’d love Denzel Perryman early in the 2nd round).

This seems too easy: Spend lavishly in free agency (thanks for clearing the cap room, Idzik). Then draft Mariota 6th overall.

Playoffs?