A Jets general manager hasn’t made a draft-day trade in the first round since 2009, but don’t be surprised if Joe Douglas snaps that streak this week.
According to ESPN’s Rich Cimini, Douglas is open to trading back in the first round of the 2020 draft to accumulate extra draft capital. That would still allow him to pick an offensive lineman or a wide receiver in the first round of the draft.
“Joe is going to do very well in the middle rounds of this draft,” NFL Network draft analyst Daniel Jeremiah said. “That’s where the sweet spot is. I would not be shocked if, either at 11 or 48, he traded down to get even more picks in that third- and fourth-round range, because then he can really upgrade the roster with this draft.”
Douglas’ NFL upbringing could influence his draft-day decisions, especially when it comes to wheeling and dealing. The two teams he previously worked for, the Philadelphia Eagles and Baltimore Ravens, have never had a problem making draft-day trades, so don’t count Douglas out from making a move.
The last time a Jets general manager executed a draft-day trade in round one was when Mike Tannenbaum traded up from No. 17 to No. 5 to draft USC quarterback Mark Sanchez. Former general manager Mike Maccagnan moved up from No. 6 to No. 3 in the 2018 NFL Draft to pick Sam Darnold, but that trade was completed with the Colts a month before the draft.
Douglas and the Jets own eight picks entering the draft (1st, 2nd, two 3rds, 4th, 5th, two 6ths). With the amount of holes on the roster, the Jets could benefit from having extra picks.
The question then becomes can Douglas hit on those draft picks? At the end of the day, that’s what it’s going to come down to. The Jets’ recent draft history has left much to be desired and Douglas needs to find a way to turn it around starting on Thursday night.