Based on what the New York Jets traded to move up just three spots, it’s all but guaranteed that the organization will select a franchise quarterback. New York has been missing a true star field general for longer than one would like to admit.
Saquon Barkley is the best player in the 2018 NFL Draft, however, and even as a running back, he could be a landscape-altering addition.
Barkley is a generational talent whose mere presence on the field would change the quality of the organization. He can thrive as a workhorse back who helps move the chains and give the Jets’ defense—seemingly its top priority—more time to rest on the sidelines.
He can also be the receiver out of the backfield—or for that matter, in the slot—who moves the chains and breaks games open with his power and elusiveness in the open field.
Throw in Barkley’s value in the return game and he could single-handedly transform the effectiveness of the offense and special teams. The hurdle, of course, is that New York boasts one of the worst offensive lines in the NFL.
The question is: Could the Jets realistically justify giving up three second-round draft picks in order to select a running back in the modern era?