Joe Caporoso with his final first round mock draft, seven round New York Jets mock draft and full preview for the first round of the 2018 NFL Draft…

The 2018 NFL Draft is here and it is kind of a big deal. With the third overall pick, the New York Jets will start a new era in their seemingly endless quest for a franchise quarterback. Before the festivities kick off tonight let’s go through one final mock draft for the first round and for all of the Jets picks, along with a few other thoughts, predictions, random GIFs and other goodness.

Make sure you are subscribed to the TOJ Podcast for today’s final preview episode featuring Connor Hughes and Dalbin Osorio, along with an initial reaction podcast tomorrow morning. Also, make sure you are subscribed to The Jet Take podcast for instant audio reaction after the pick tonight. Last but not least, follow our new Instagram account for further reaction and analysis throughout the weekend. MANY THINGS TO FOLLOW!

Players most frequently associated with the Jets at the third overall pick. THIS IS MUCH EASIER THAN RECENT YEARS.

Josh Rosen – The Jets take QB1 and blow away the smokescreens. Most of the chatter around the Jets has been focused on Baker Mayfield but Rosen is a more traditional pocket passer with a higher floor. He is also arguably the best quarterback in this class (so is Mayfield and Darnold). The Jets taking Rosen would be a demonstration of them effectively throwing everybody off the scent of their pick with a smokescreen.

The most fun pick at #3 and one that will have been blatantly telegraphed if the Jets select him. Who cares? This is still a defensible decision as Mayfield’s style of play and accuracy should be a strong fit in the Jets offensive scheme.

Sam Darnold – The Jets get a surprise and go “clean” for their QB1. My guess at who the Jets have as their top quarterback on the board, who they would sprint up to the podium to take if he happens to be there. Personally, I think Rosen or Mayfield are just as good, if not better picks but if Darnold is there (he won’t be), prepare for the Jets to take him.

Josh Allen – The Jets piss everybody off. The Jets decide to take a flier on arguably the 5th or 6th best quarterback in the class with extreme accuracy issues who even the most ardent supporters of admit won’t be ready to play for a year or two. FREEZE HIM UP IN THAT CARBONITE NEXT TO HACKENBERG!

THE HAPPINESS CHART

BILLY DEE CLAPPING (THRILLED) – Josh Rosen or Baker Mayfield

KNOWING NOD (CONTENT) – Sam Darnold

WE MARCH ON FLORHAM PARK! FOLLOW ME! (CATATONIC) – Josh Allen

FIRST ROUND MOCK DRAFT: CLEAR EYES, FULL HEART, CAN’T LOSE! (Note, may get some or many picks wrong…so can lose!)

Cleveland – Sam Darnold, QB – 12 months in the making. Giants – Saquon Barkley, RB – Dumb but they’ll do it anyway. Jets – Josh Rosen, QB – QB1. Cleveland – Bradley Chubb, Edge – Dangerous duo with Garrett. Buffalo (Via Trade) – Josh Allen, QB – Enjoy it, Bills fans! Indianpolis – Quenton Nelson, OG – Operation keep Andrew Luck alive. Tampa Bay – Derwin James, S – Needed high floor secondary help. Miami (Via Trade) – Baker Mayfield, QB – Not happy about this as a Jets fan. San Francisco – Roquan Smith, LB – Early DROY candidate. Oakland – Kolton Miller, OT – Ereck Flowers 2.0. Chicago – Mike McGlinchey, OT – Protect Mitch. Denver – Denzel Ward, CB – Early DROY candidate. Washington – Vita Vea, NT – Not flashy but solid value. Green Bay – Tremaine Edmunds, LB – Continued investment in front seven. Arizona – Lamar Jackson, QB – Will be starting sooner rather than later. Baltimore – Calvin Ridley, WR – The endless quest for WR help. Los Angeles – Taven Bryan, DT – Good lord, that front. Seattle – Josh Jackson, CB – Tremendous value. LOB needs to be rebuilt. Dallas -Minkah Fitzpatrick, DB – Big name. Overrated prospect. Detroit – Leighton Vander Esch, LB – Needed second level help on D. Cincinnati – Harold Landry, Edge – Will be an immediate impact player. Buffalo – Isaiah Wynn, OG – Desperate for OL help in a deep OG class. New England – Connor Williams, OT – Nate Solder replacement. Carolina – Jaire Alexander, CB – Day one starter who will provide needed back end boost. Tennessee – Rashaan Evans, LB – Strong fit in Titans scheme. Atlanta – Da’Ron Payne, DT – Needed support upfront for the Falcons. New Orleans – Mike Gesicki, TE – New age Jimmy Graham. Pittsburgh – Justin Reid, S – Bortles shredding them is burned into Pittsburgh’s memory. Jacksonville – DJ Moore, WR – New age Golden Tate. Minnesota – Frank Ragnow, C – Great value grab at end of round. New England – James Washington, WR – Will annoyingly catch 50 passes as rookie. Philadelphia – Derrius Guice, RB – Steal. The gap isn’t that big between Barkley and him.

#JetsTwitter Justifications For All Picks

Josh Rosen – He has always been the best quarterback in the NFL Draft. He is a perfect fit with Jeremy Bates. He has the right, cocky attitude for New York.

Baker Mayfield – The advanced analytics say he is the best quarterback in the NFL Draft. He is a perfect fit with Jeremy Bates. He has the right, cocky attitude for New York.

Sam Darnold – He has been QB1 for over a year. It is a miracle he fell into the Jets lap at #3.

Josh Allen – He throws the football very far…very, very far. BRO, TRUST THE TEAM THIS IS THEIR JOB, IT TOOK REAL GUTS TO MAKE THIS PICK!

NEW YORK JETS SEVEN ROUND MOCK DRAFT (I got THREE picks right last year, what could possibly go wrong this year!)

Round 1 – Josh Rosen, QB UCLA – The pick will be Rosen or Mayfield. Both are good options. I’ll go with Rosen with the Jets running an extended Mayfield smokescreen the past few weeks.

Round 3 – Tyrell Crosby, OL Oregon – Immediate support for the young quarterback where it counts most: offensive line. Crosby has a high enough upside to push for playing time this year.

Round 4 – Fred Warner, OLB BYU – The Jets desperately need second level help on their defense, hopefully it pans out better than Lorenzo Mauldin and Dylan Donahue.

Round 5 – Parry Nickerson, CB Tulane – The path to replacing Buster Skrine begins now.

Round 6 – Jullian Taylor, DT Temple – Todd Bowles taps his former school for needed upfront depth on the defense.

Round 7 – Martez Carter, RB Grambling St – The Jets have been sniffing around running back help all offseason. Carter is a scatback who can contribute potentially on both offense and special teams.

HOT PLATE OF TAKES. PROCEED WITH CAUTION

The Giants will be drafting a quarterback in the first round next year.

Denzel Ward will be this year’s Marshon Lattimore.

Josh Allen will not play a single snap in 2018.

Lamar Jackson will start at least five games in 2018.

Calvin Ridley and Minkah Fitzpatrick will be overdrafted.

Josh Rosen or Quenton Nelson will win OROY.

Roquan Smith or Denzel Ward will win DROY.

Guess At The Jets Big Board

Sam Darnold Saquon Barkley Quenton Nelson Josh Rosen Baker Mayfield Bradley Chubb Derwin James Roquan Smith Denzel Ward Josh Allen

The TOJ Editor Big Board (AKA ME)

Quenton Nelson Bradley Chubb Josh Rosen Roquan Smith Baker Mayfield Saquon Barkley Denzel Ward Sam Darnold Derwin James Lamar Jackson

FINAL NEW YORK JETS PERCENTAGES

Baker Mayfield – 40%

40% Josh Rosen – 40%

40% Sam Darnold – 15%

15% Josh Allen – 5%

Happy Draft Night Everybody! Don’t miss our latest podcast and appearance on ESPN Radio!

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Photo Credit: NFL.com

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