2007 NFL Draft Betting on Bodog - New York Jets 1st Rounder

Here's another NFL Draft proposition bet on Bodog.com.

Will the New York Jets 1st round selection be an offensive or defensive player?

Offensive Player -105
Defensive Player -135

I would tend to heavily lean towards the Jets drafting a defensive player in the 1st round this year. Consider this.

THE JETS OFFENSE

The Jets offense had two solid receivers in Lavernues Coles and Jerricho Cotchery. Pennington led the team to the playoffs, so I doubt they decide to improve their quarterback position in the first. The Jets spent their first and second rounders on offensive linemen last year.

They traded for Thomas Jones in the offseason, so they presumably have their starting runner this year. If Greg Olsen fell to their pick, the Jets might look to add a talented tight end, which is probably their biggest need on offense.

But as you look down the list, the Jets don't have leave a whole lot of glaring "needs" on the offense. The same can hardly be said about their defense.

DEFENSIVE NEEDS

You look at Jets needs in the draft and most of the time you will hear about the defensive line. The Jets had trouble stopping the run at times, which is really about the first thing a defense needs to do. Justin Harrell should be going about the time the Jets pick in the first round.

Like most teams under the new passing game rules, the Jets could use defensive backs. Andre Dyson was solid last year, but New York started a string of players opposite him. Leon Hall, Aaron Ross and Chris Houston are all slated to go somewhere around where the Jets pick, though Hall and even Ross are likely to already be off the board.

DON'T GET ME WRONG

I know what you're saying. The Jets offense looked putrid at times last year. The defense kept them in games at times, too. But I imagine the coaching staff still looks over the roster this offseason and says to themselves, "We need playmakers on defense."

Sure, Mangini is an offensive coach. But he came out of a Patriots system which won Superbowls with a solid defense, a star quarterback and few other stars on the offensive side of the ball. Coaches often over-compensate when drafting, so an offensive coach might want to draft defenders high to compensate for a lack of perception or even knowledge of that side of the ball. Look at Brian Billick in Baltimore.

So, if I were a betting man, I would take that defensive bet here. The odds are a little longer, but I just wouldn't feel comfortable betting on an offensive player.

JETS TRADES

The Jets have two second rounders. That means they have the trade ammo to move up in the first round. I imagine Mangini will want to keep the extra picks and add to his overall depth. But since the conventional wisdom is that teams in the bottom of the 1st are wanting to trade down, that probably means the price won't be good for doing so.

When faced with staying at their 1st round pick or trading up to get a slider, the New York Jets will at least talk to teams wanting to trade down ahead of them. Keep in mind that the Jets have extra picks, and will therefore be looked at by other teams seeking trade downs, if a player begins to slide.

DRAFT RUMORS

There are rumors floating that the Raiders offered a "low ball" offer to Brady Quinn, of all people. That would throw the top end of the draft for a loop! For a couple of months now, it has looked like the Raiders would draft either Calvin Johnson or Jamarcus Russell.

Looks like Quinn's lobbying to be the first player in the draft may be working. He may reconsider, now that the prospect of working for Al Davis actually looms.

More likely, this is simply the Raiders floating rumors, so they can get a better pre-draft deal with Russell or Johnson.

BRONCOS-JETS TRADE?

A more credible rumor has the Broncos trying to trade up with the Lions, possibly to grab Calvin Johnson. This is credible because the Lions are known to want to move down in this draft. The Broncos, on the other hand, have been somewhat profligate with their draft picks in recent years. They are one of the biggest draft day movers in the past five years, trading up for Jay Cutler and trading to get Javon Walker, while also ditching Portis for Champ Bailey and a selection.

So when the Broncos get in draft rumors, I listen.

That being said, the price supposedly being offered by Denver is their 1st, 2nd and 3rd this year and their 1st next year. I have a hard time believing that's the case. If it is, Matt Millen is insane if he doesn't take that package immediately.

Of course, the trade is supposedly contingent on the Raiders not selecting Calvin Johnson with the first pick. Al Davis might select Johnson just to spite Mike Shanahan.

These are probably just idle rumors, the kinds of things forgotten by draft day. But it sure is nice to have something to talk about. I love NFL Draft Week.

OTHER NFL DRAFT STORIES:

2007 Buffalo Bills Draft
2007 Green Bay Packers Draft
2007 Dallas Cowboys Draft

2007 NFL Draft Betting on Bodog - New York Jets 1st Rounder