I just read Casserly's discussion around the draft. I think Williams DT goes
#2 now and Gregory will fall in our laps, but the Jets will need to decide between Gregory and trading down, IMO. I think the Jets trade down if they can.
Of all the mock drafts out there, this is one of the more interesting, at least in terms of what it has the Jets doing.
It comes from Charley Casserly, the former NFL general manager and current NFL Network analyst. He served as a consultant to owner Woody Johnson in the Jets' recent head coach and general manager searches.
The GM search ended with the hiring of Mike Maccagnan, who worked in scouting under Casserly in Washington from 1994-99 and in Houston from 2000-06. Casserly was the GM in both of those organizations.
So Casserly is familiar with the way Maccagnan thinks, though probably not with his exact plans for this spring's draft. And if Casserly is familiar with Maccagnan's exact draft plans, he's certainly not going to blurt them out on television.
Anyway, Casserly appeared on TV and speculated about what the Jets might do with the sixth overall pick. Here's the link to his TV segment, if you want to watch it. But you can read all the pertinent information about what he said below.
Casserly's top five picks are as follows:
1. Tampa Bay: QB Jameis Winston
2. Tennessee: OLB Randy Gregory
3. Jacksonville: OLB Dante Fowler Jr.
4. Oakland: WR Kevin White
5. Washington: DE Shane Ray
At this point, defensive end Leonard Williams hasn't been picked in Casserly's mock draft. Williams is a popular projection for the Titans at No. 2.
And now, here's what Casserly has the Jets doing ...
"I say they're going to make a trade," Casserly said.
A trade!
"This is the Marcus Mariota auction," Casserly said of the Oregon quarterback.
Casserly believes the Jets will trade the pick to the Browns, so Cleveland can select Mariota.
"They've got to get the quarterback," Casserly said, alluding to the fact that the Browns' quarterback situation is in shambles right now, with Brian Hoyer leaving for the Texans in free agency, Johnny Manziel in rehab and Josh McCown (whom the Browns signed in free agency) still being Josh McCown, and about to turn 36.
There are a lot of what-ifs in Casserly's scenario. The biggest, of course, is: What if Mariota isn't available at No. 6? The Browns probably wouldn't be as interested in the Jets' pick. But Casserly didn't say what he thinks the Jets might do if they can't trade the pick. (Draft an edge pass rusher/outside linebacker would be one educated guess.)
Remember, as of right now, the Browns have two first-round picks -- Nos. 12 and 19. They got the latter because the Bills traded their 2015 first-rounder to Cleveland last year in order to move up and take receiver Sammy Watkins.
• Darrelle Revis says he left New England Patriots to help deliver a Super Bowl title to the Jets
• Players connected to the Jets in 2015 mock drafts
Casserly didn't say what he projects the Browns to give the Jets for the No. 6 pick. It would probably be one of those first-round picks, No. 12 or No. 19, along with some other picks.
So what do you think, gang? Should the Jets trade the No. 6 pick to the Browns, if Cleveland wants to move up to take Mariota? Or should the Jets draft Mariota? Leave your thoughts down there in the comments section.
As you ponder those questions, here's what various mock drafts predict the Jets will do with the No. 6 pick, though most mock drafters go with the caveat that they won't project trades:
• ESPN's Mel Kiper Jr. (March): Oregon quarterback Marcus Mariota
• SB Nation's Dan Kadar (March): Oregon QB Marcus Mariota
• NFL Media's Bucky Brooks (February): Oregon QB Marcus Mariota
• ESPN's Todd McShay (February): Oregon QB Marcus Mariota
• Sports Illustrated's Peter King (February): Alabama WR Amari Cooper
• NFL Media's Daniel Jeremiah (February): Michigan State CB Trae Waynes
• NJ.com's Dom Cosentino (February): Florida OLB/DE Dante Fowler Jr.
• SB Nation's Dan Kadar (February): Florida OLB/DE Dante Fowler Jr.
• CBSSports.com's Rob Rang (February): West Virginia WR Kevin White
• NJ.com's Jordan Raanan (February): Florida State QB Jameis Winston
• ESPN's Mel Kiper Jr. (February): Oregon QB Marcus Mariota
• SB Nation's Dan Kadar (February): Clemson OLB/DE Vic Beasley
• ESPN's Todd McShay (February): Oregon QB Marcus Mariota
• CBSSports.com's Dane Brugler (February): Oregon QB Marcus Mariota
• NFL Media's Daniel Jeremiah (January): Oregon QB Marcus Mariota
• ESPN's Mel Kiper Jr. (January): Missouri DE Shane Ray
• The Big Lead's Jason McIntyre (January): Oregon QB Marcus Mariota
• Bleacher Report's Matt Miller (January): Oregon QB Marcus Mariota
• SB Nation's Dan Kadar (January): Florida State QB Jameis Winston
• ESPN's Todd McShay (December): Alabama WR Amari Cooper
• Sports Illustrated's Chris Burke (December): Florida State QB Jameis Winston
• CBSSports.com's Dane Brugler (December): Nebraska DE Randy Gregory
• DraftInsider.net's Tony Pauline (November): Alabama WR Amari Cooper
• CBSSports.com's Dane Brugler (October!): Florida State QB Jameis Winston
Darryl Slater may be reached at
dslater@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @DarrylSlater. Find NJ.com Jets on Facebook.
