Jets Would be Wise to Trade Down for Andrus Peat

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Anybody who follows the NFL Draft would tell you to view any report during the two weeks leading up to the draft with a high level of skepticism. Teams send mixed signals and even blatantly false information to scouts and anonymous sources in hopes of manipulating the draft position of certain players they may or may not have interest in.

With the being said, some rumors make too much sense to completely ignore. A recent report that several personnel directors said the Jets have "an affinity for" Stanford left tackle Andrus Peat is one that shouldn’t be wholeheartedly dismissed.

Peat was one of the first prospects to visit the Jets’ facility this offseason and New York has a serious need on the offensive line. With only six draft picks, trading down from No. 6 overall to draft Peat and add an additional pick or two is a strategy full of merit.

It seems highly doubtful the Jets would trade back if Marcus Mariota were on the board, but it looks just as doubtful that he’ll fall out of the first five picks Thursday night. The Jets have been widely connected to Alabama wide receiver Amari Cooper and multiple pass rushers, but new general manager Mike Maccagnan may feel that none of those options represent good value and decide to trade back.

Coming off an All-American junior season, Peat is the ultimate boom-or-bust prospect. He has good size at 6-7, 313 pounds and an athletic profile similar to past first-round picks Anthony Costanzo, Gabe Carimi and Kyle Long. His play has also been compared to Jets left tackle D’Brickashaw Ferguson, who the team can move on from after the 2015 season if they so choose.

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