INDIANAPOLIS — Mike Maccagnan sounded like a salesman Friday evening when he met with the media.
The Jets general manager wanted to make clear his team is interested in acquiring more picks in next month’s draft. Starting with the sixth overall pick, the Jets are ready to trade back and pile up more than the seven picks they currently have.
“We’re open for business in every round,” Maccagnan said at the NFL Scouting Combine. “If somebody wants to move up and we have a pick in that round, call us up.”
Even the No. 6 pick in the first round?
“Any pick,” he said.
Deals, deals, deals.
Maccagnan said he already has told his fellow general managers that the Jets are the team to call if they are looking to move up. The Jets currently have one pick in rounds 1, 2, 5, 6 and 7 and two in round 3. They do not have a fourth-round pick.
With a roster undergoing a massive overhaul, the Jets need to add players — lots of players. One way to do that cheaply is with extra draft picks.
“We would like to move back and acquire more picks in this draft if possible,” Maccagnan said. “In my mind, that affords you at least the opportunity to expedite the process of trying to improve the talent base on your roster.”
That is not to say Maccagnan is set on dealing away the sixth pick. He made it clear that he is open to all options — making the pick, trading back for more picks or trading up if they felt a player was worth it.
“I would say there’s going to be a very good player available at six,” Maccagnan said. “It’s probably something where you’d entertain offers on the clock so you know what you’d potentially have and what you could potentially move back to.
“I think personally we’re interested in having options going forward.”
The Jets will be counting on draft picks to contribute immediately in 2017 after the roster purge they have undergone recently. Maccagnan said goodbye to veterans Darrelle Revis, Nick Mangold, Brandon Marshall, Ryan Clady, Breno Giacomini and Nick Folk in recent weeks. But, like coach Todd Bowles, Maccagnan does not like calling this a “rebuild.” He said the Jets will use the salary cap space created to add players that can help them compete.
“Both Todd and I have the same mindset,” Maccagnan said. “We want to build this team, and we said this from Day 1, to go out there and be consistently competitive for the playoffs.
“Obviously, the first season we were fortunate enough to win 10 games. Last season, it didn’t go quite as well for us. But our goal has always been that. I think going into this season we’re going to do everything in our power to be as competitive as possible.”
Maccagnan said the cuts the Jets have made have been about their faith in the younger players on the roster.
“I know we’ve made quite a few moves this offseason, but a lot of it is predicated on the fact that we feel good about the younger players,” he said. “Then, with the money we freed up hopefully we’ll be able to help ourselves in different areas.”
