The Jets-Colts trade was a win-win
After every big trade in all of sports, everyone is quick to try and pick a winner of the trade. However not every trade requires a winner, both teams can “win” or both teams can “lose”.
On Saturday the Jets and Colts made a big trade that sent the Colts third overall pick in the upcoming NFL Draft for the Jets sixth overall pick, two 2018 second round picks and a 2019 second round pick.
Fans were quick to jump on the Jets for giving up way too much just to move up three spots in the draft. They immediately said the Colts fleeced the Jets and it wasn’t close. That’s completely wrong, both teams came out winners here.
The Colts are one of football’s bottom teams. Everybody knows they need to add positive depth at nearly every position. This trade lines them up to take one of the best overall players in this draft at #6 seeing as they don’t need one of the praised quarterbacks. They now have nine draft picks, including four in the first two rounds.
The Jets also came out winners in this trade. Yes, they lost three second round picks to move up three spots. But they’re three huge spots in this draft. There’s four main quarterbacks in the 2018 draft: Josh Rosen, Josh Allen, Sam Darnold and Baker Mayfield.
The Jets have been franchise-quarterback deprived for decades. No matter how good a team’s defense, wide receivers, or running backs are, without a quality quarterback, it’s nearly impossible to put together a winning culture.
Look at last year’s Minnesota Vikings. They had one of football’s best defenses, along with top receivers and two solid running backs, they went to the NFC Championship Game thanks to a miraculous play against New Orleans.
But without a solidified quarterback for the next couple of seasons, they’d waste what they have, and that’s why they let go of their three mediocre quarterbacks to sign the top free agent Kirk Cousins to the highest paid contract ever.
Therefore, trading up three spots allows the Jets to at least have a chance to draft one of those four quarterback’s and have rare positivity in the future. Franchise quarterbacks are worth everything in the NFL. They are far and away the most valuable position and key to a team’s success.
Not only does moving up to the third pick immensly help the Jets, it also slows down the chances of other teams, like the rival Bills, to get a quarterback.
If the Jets stayed at #6, and assume the Colts trade that third pick to another team, that leaves picks 1–5 possibly taking all four top quarterbacks. The Browns will take one, the Giants most likely will, the third team will, and the Broncos very much might also take one.
Then everyone would have their hands up in the air over why the Jets didn't move up and are once again stuck in the mud.
Teams like the Bills can still move up to the first or second pick, but seeing as the Giants and Browns would happily take a quarterback or Saquon Barkley, those picks would cost much more than what the Jets gave up.
The Jets may have forced the Browns to take a quarterback at #1, and the Giants could very well opt for Barkley at two. The Jets will be in a great position for a quarterback. He could very well turn out horrible, but you never know until you try.
I don’t see how putting yourself in a chance for a top quarterback and showing that you actually care about the future can be looked at negativly for essentially three second round picks.
They’re not players, they’re picks that could very well turn into nothing. We’ve seen plenty of times that where you’re drafted doesn’t guaruntee any success. Look at Tom Brady (Round 6) and Ryan Leaf (#2 overall pick).
The Jets have locked up a guaruntee that they will at least have a chance at one of those quarterbacks, and that is why they’re also winners here. Saying they got fleeced simply makes no sense.
