Rumor: Jet's trying to move up to #2 to pick Leinart

[flotsamnjetsam]

Jets | Team looking for ammunition to trade up
Sun, 19 Mar 2006 07:26:42 -0800

Randy Lange, of the Bergen Record, reports the New York Jets are reportedly looking for ammunition, by trading DE John Abraham, to move up to the No. 2 slot in the April NFL Draft. They team wants to draft USC QB Matt Leinart.







Jets pitch hardball to Falcons

Sunday, March 19, 2006

By RANDY LANGE
STAFF WRITER



In the Jets' stare down with the Atlanta Falcons over the trade of John Abraham, there is more at stake than meets the eye.

The Jets and Mike Tannenbaum, trying to consummate his first major deal as an NFL general manager, seek to secure the means to make another trade, from their fourth overall pick in next month's draft to No. 2, where New Orleans now resides.


And the object of that swap with the Saints would be to select Southern Cal quarterback Matt Leinart.

That rumor has been floated before, but a knowledgeable league source said Saturday that it is the driving force behind Tannenbaum's hardball negotiations with Atlanta GM Rich McKay over compensation for Abraham, the franchise-tagged pass-rushing superstar.

The Jets want Atlanta's first-round pick, 15th overall, to let Abraham join the Falcons. The Falcons initially offered their second-rounder (No. 47).

In an attempt to break the impasse, the source said, McKay offered to include a player with the second-rounder.

The identity of the player isn't known, but the Falcons have discussed trading T.J. Duckett, featured back Warren Dunn's backup the past four years.

After parting with LaMont Jordan a year ago, the Jets could be tempted to bring in another heir apparent for Curtis Martin, this time with Martin clearly being throttled down at the end of his career.

But the Jets, according to the NFL source, said no to the two-plus-a-player.

They could still trade up with the Saints by trading, say, their No. 4 plus their second- and third-round picks. But they want the mid-first-round pick, which they could spend on a linebacker such as Chad Greenway or DeMeco Ryans for new coach Eric Mangini's defense.

That is where the sides reportedly stood Saturday, irritated with each other's stance but still communicating and taking time out, likely until Monday, to ponder their positions.

The Seahawks dealt themselves into this game by offering their 31st overall pick for Abraham, but while it is believed they have made a contract proposal to agents Tony Agnone and Rich Rosa, Abraham's choice is Atlanta.

[terpfan]

Interesting... I could definately see the Jets moving up for Leinart. This is actually more indication to me that the Jets would take Mario Williams at #4. They obviously arent too thrilled with Cutler if they want to move up two spots for Leinart. Maybe that logic is flawed, but thats what Im thinking.

[TheOneManShow 26]

Im down with that... We will still be able to get our guy, D'Brick or AJ Hawk while picking up a few more picks.

Oh boy am I looking forward to this years draft.

[no1cowboysfan]

Interesting... I could definately see the Jets moving up for Leinart. This is actually more indication to me that the Jets would take Mario Williams at #4. They obviously arent too thrilled with Cutler if they want to move up two spots for Leinart. Maybe that logic is flawed, but thats what Im thinking.

That's odd... I heard his Pro Day went well. There's nothing I have heard that would indictate his stock went down (besides the Brees signing, but that is more of a "draft value" thing).

Good though... maybe one team has finally seen the light. Cutler = boo.

[eaglesrule]

good move for them I think. If you are going to be in rebuilding mode, might as well get the guy you are really behind. They aren't making the playoffs in the next 2 years probably anyway. Three team from one division almost cannot make it, and the pats aren't going anywhere, and the dolphins are ascendant.

[terpfan]

Interesting... I could definately see the Jets moving up for Leinart. This is actually more indication to me that the Jets would take Mario Williams at #4. They obviously arent too thrilled with Cutler if they want to move up two spots for Leinart. Maybe that logic is flawed, but thats what Im thinking.

That's odd... I heard his Pro Day went well. There's nothing I have heard that would indictate his stock went down (besides the Brees signing, but that is more of a "draft value" thing).

Good though... maybe one team has finally seen the light. Cutler = boo.

I dont think its necessarily that his stock is dropping, just that he was never considered #4 value in the first place. Just a hunch.

Edited to add: This would be a sweet deal for the Saints. I dont see what they have to lose from it.

[michaelavelli]

It seems that the Brees signing not only makes it more likely that the Saints could move down, but almost so that the Saints would actually prefer to move down.

Would it be possible for the Jets to talk to Houston as well about trading up and using the them as leverage against the Saints?

[mattb47]

I do agree that it would be in the Jets best interest to talk to both teams to try to get the best deal as both teams would be interested in moving down to 4 in my opinion.

[mikus]

I do agree that it would be in the Jets best interest to talk to both teams to try to get the best deal as both teams would be interested in moving down to 4 in my opinion.

The Saints definitely stole the leverage from Houston when they signed Brees. Houston is dead in the water right now, b/c they were reportedly shopping the pick with Reggie Bush as leverage, but now his stock has died down as it seems more teams are interested in trading for the best quarterback available. If Houston wants to market their pick, they should start suggesting that they might be interested in a quarterback. But I would find anything Houston said about that pretty unbelievable at this point. So I think the Saints, at No. 2, are at the best place right now in the draft.

[disgruntledjetsfan]

Ehhh i don't know if I want Leinart, especially if it means trading away all these picks to move up. I'd rather stay where we are and rebuild the offensive line, so whatever QB is starting for us next year doesn't get killed.