At some point, it figures the Jets are either going to trade QB Sam Darnold or the No. 2 overall pick. Because if they do stick with Darnold, the value of trading this pick will be way too high to justify keeping it. So, this time around, I have the Jets trading the No. 2 pick to the Carolina Panthers, who are currently drafting eighth.

The deal: The Jets send the No. 2 pick to Carolina in exchange for the No. 8 pick, a third- and fourth-round pick in this draft, and a first- and second-round pick in the 2022 draft. That, by the way, is almost exactly what it cost the Philadelphia Eagles to move up from No. 8 to No. 2 in 2016, so it almost certainly would be the framework of such a move this year.

The Panthers, obviously, would be moving up to get either BYU QB Zach Wilson or Ohio State QB Justin Fields. As for the Jets, they’ll need weapons to make their decision to stick with Darnold look good.

And good thing for them, there will be a top receiver waiting for them at 8. In fact, there are three – Waddle, Alabama’s DeVonta Smith and LSU’s Ja’Marr Chase – widely expected to go in the Top 10. It’s possible two will be gone by 8, depending on what happens with the quarterbacks and Florida TE Kyle Pitts. But at least one should be available.

If the Jets find the 5-foot-10, 182-pound Waddle here, he’ll be hard to pass up since he might be the fastest receiver in this draft and possibly the most explosive. I’ve heard more than a few people compare him to Kansas City’s explosive weapon Tyreek Hill. An ankle injury last season kept his numbers down (28-591-4 in six games), but scouts aren’t concerned.

Waddle’s speed is going to make him a favorite of Jets GM Joe Douglas, and his elusiveness will make him a perfect fit for their new, Mike LaFleur offense.

(Previous picks: Oregon OT Penei Sewell, LSU WR Ja’Marr Chase)

First Round (23rd overall) – Clemson RB Travis Etienne

Taking a running back in the first round doesn’t seem like a popular idea, but it might be a necessary move to the Jets – and certainly a better option than spending big on a running back in free agency again. That didn’t work out so well two years ago when they went all in on Le’Veon Bell.

Taking the 5-foot-10, 200-pound Etienne makes sense for a variety of reasons here. For one, the Jets just aren’t loaded with offensive weapons and Etienne is a weapon. He had back-to-back seasons with 1,600 rushing yards as a sophomore and junior. And while that total dipped to just 914 as a senior (and dropped from 7.8 yards per carry to 5.4), some attribute that to a drop off in his offensive line play and considerable more attention from defenses.

The other reason it makes sense is the Jets need running backs. The Kyle Shanahan offense that LaFleur will run is built around the running game and the Jets really only have the very untested LaMical Perine. They need reinforcements – preferably ones who are dual threats. Etienne caught 85 passes for 1,020 yards over the last two seasons.

(Previous picks: Minnesota WR Rashod Bateman; South Carolina CB Jaycee Horn)

Second Round (34^th overall) – Miami DE Jaelan Phillips

The Jets have so many holes and needs that it’s really hard to know where to start. Building up the cast around the quarterback is probably the most important job. But the defense needs a lot of work, too.

And assuming new Jets head coach Robert Saleh wants to build the same kind of defense he had in San Francisco, the first thing he’ll notice is he doesn’t have nearly the same caliber of defensive line. And there’s certainly no Nick Bosa to dominate in the pass rush and command the attention of offensive coordinators.

He can scheme around some of that, but at some point he’ll need to find strong edge rushers. And the 6-foot-5, 258-pound Phillips could be a perfect fit. He had eight sacks and 15 ½ tackles for loss last season, taking over for Gregory Rousseau at Miami after he opted out of the 2020 season. And some scouts think he’s just scratching the surface of his talent.

He might need to get a little stronger to be what Saleh needs out of a defensive end in his 4-3 scheme, but he wouldn’t take too long to become the Jets’ best threat on the edge – especially with Quinnen Williams drawing so much attention inside.

(Previous picks: Phillips, Clemson RB Travis Etienne)

First Round (23rd overall) – Clemson RB Travis Etienne

Second Round (34th overall) – Miami DE Jaelan Phillips

Second Round (34^th overall) – Miami DE Jaelan Phillips

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