NFL Draft 2018: Mike Maccagnan pre-draft press conference takeaways | Jets still tweaking QB rankings?

Posted April 23, 2018 at 02:59 PM | Updated April 23, 2018 at 03:06 PM

By Darryl Slater | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com

NY Jets GM Mike Maccagnan pre-draft press conference

AP Photo

This is Maccagnan's fourth (and most important) draft as the Jets' general manager.

PRESSURE AT NO. 3?

There is, of course, a lot of pressure that comes with taking a quarterback third overall, which is surely what the Jets will do. But Maccagnan said he tries to "put that to the side" and make his decision "in a vacuum," while not thinking about the massive implications of getting a potential franchise quarterback at No. 3.

RUNNING BACK IN ROUND 3?

The most concrete thing Maccagnan said was hinting that the Jets could take a running back in the third round (72nd overall), with their next pick after the quarterback at No. 3 (or higher). Maccagnan volunteered that this is a good year for running backs, and left open the possibility that the Jets could get one in Round 3. The Jets made a modest commitment to Isaiah Crowell in free agency. Bilal Powell is entering the final year of his contract. Keep an eye on a guy like Rashaad Penny for the Jets in Round 3.

QB RANKINGS DONE?

Maccagnan indicated that, yes, the top end of the Jets' draft board is complete. But he said that, in his mind, he didn't want to truly set his quarterback pecking order in stone until after the Jets hosted their final quarterback prospect, Sam Darnold, on a pre-draft visit. Only then, Maccagnan said, could he really "put it to bed," with that pecking order. "I think we have a pretty good feel of how we see them," Maccagnan said. "You have an order, so of course, you like your order."

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