With the sixth overall pick in the 2015 NFL Draft, the New York Jets select ...
Who knows. They have a number of needs and possess countless options with their draft position, so it could be anyone from Oregon quarterback Marcus Mariota to West Virginia wide receiver Kevin White to Iowa offensive tackle Brandon Scherff to Clemson outside linebacker Vic Beasley.
Those are the four prospects some notable pundits believe the Jets will pick. Let's go down the list.
Mariota
While it's possible, it's still highly unlikely considering the Cleveland Browns and Philadelphia Eagles are rumored to be doing all they can to grab that No. 2 overall pick from the Tennessee Titans to select the Oregon quarterback. In previous mock drafts earlier in the offseason, it was almost a consensus that Mariota would fall to the Jets and they would take him, but now it's pretty much an afterthought. However, it hasn't stopped some from promoting the idea.
"[General manager Mike Maccagnan will] be hailed as Miracle Mike if he can figure out a way to trade up with Tennessee at No. 2 and get Mariota without having to pay a prohibitive price, because franchise quarterback remains the Jets' everlasting, ever-present No. 1 need," writes Steve Serby of the New York Post.
White
While Serby thinks Mariota should be the top target for the Jets, fellow Post reporter Brian Costello believes the team lacks "game-breakers" and Maccagnan needs speed for the offense. As a result, considering the two top quarterbacks will likely be taken already, Costello realistically suggests Maccagnan goes after a wide receiver.
"The Jets could use a quarterback, but both Jameis Winston and Marcus Mariota will be gone before the Jets pick," Costello writes. "That leaves Maccagnan to decide whether to trade back or take the best player on the board. I think he will opt to stay at No. 6 and take White, who has drawn comparisons to Larry Fitzgerald."
ESPN Insider Mel Kiper Jr. also has the Jets selecting White.
"White checks off a few boxes as the best player available while addressing a need, and this is a team that needs just a little more offense to compete with any team, thanks to the defense," he writes.
Scherff
According to ProFootballFocus.com, the Jets' offensive line ranked eighth in pass blocking, 19th in run blocking and 23rd in penalties committed. This gave them a 13th overall ranking for the 2014 season, but the current cast is getting old, with only one starter under the age of 29. In Serby's mock draft, he projects the Jets to take Scherff with the No. 6 pick, obviously barring any trades and assuming Mariota goes to the Titans at No. 2.
Interestingly enough, the last time New York took a lineman in the first round was back in 2006 when they had the No. 4 and No. 29 overall selections and chose D'Brickashaw Ferguson and Nick Mangold. Scherff could be the beginning of a new era.
Beasley
ESPN Insider Todd McShay has Beasley going to the Jets at No. 6 in his latest mock draft, even though he ranks the linebacker 25th overall on his big board. McShay believes the Jets are in need of an edge rusher, for which Beasley fits the bill.
However, his analysis that follows brings us right back to square one - with Mariota.
"I also wouldn't rule out the Jets trading up to draft Mariota. I've heard some chatter about it, and there's definitely some love for Mariota in the Jets' building."
The Titans are said to be driving a "hard bargain" for the No. 2 pick and the Jets were one of the teams that spoke to Tennessee about trading up, according to Jim Wyatt of the Nashville Tennessean.
All speculation will be laid to rest after tonight.
