Maccagnan speaks: Could the Jets draft a QB?

FLORHAM PARK — The Jets have plenty of options in Thursday's NFL Draft. They could use their No. 6 pick to bolster their shoddy defensive backfield by picking a safety or cornerback. They could add a much-needed edge rusher, or select a running back for their new look offense.

Or they could make the boldest, riskiest move of all: picking a quarterback.

Jets general manager Mike Maccagnan spoke to reporters on Monday for the final time before the Draft, but he didn't offer many clues about what he might do.

But he certainly didn't rule out the possibility of picking a quarterback.

"My approach, and I'm being as transparent as I can be, is whoever we feel is the best player for this organization at six, we'll take him," Maccagnan said. "Plain and simple."

The consensus top options at quarterback are Clemson's Deshaun Watson, North Carolina's Mitch Trubisky and Notre Dame's DeShone Kizer.

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The Jets have scouted that trio thoroughly and have reportedly held private workouts with all three. That seems to be an indictment of the Jets' current quarterbacks -- especially Christian Hackenberg, who the Jets selected in the second round only a year ago.

But Maccagnan said that's not the case. He says the Jets continue to heavily scout quarterbacks because it's the most consequential position on the field.

"Quite frankly, I don't know if there's going to be a year where I or we as a team don't look strongly at that position," Maccagnan said. "Because I think it's so important, that you almost have to every year.  I think what you'll find, too, is a lot of teams in the league do the same thing."

Maccagnan, predictably, said that the Jets' interest in quarterbacks in this draft isn't an indictment of Hackenberg. But in doing so, he also acknowledged that the Jets are lacking something at the quarterback.

"I don't think [us scouting quarterbacks is] a referendum on one, or another player," Maccagnan said. "I think until you're at a position where you feel, 'Hey this is [good] where you're at.' And we're not at that position yet. But we may be. Time will tell."

If theJets don't like the way things play out at No. 6, they could trade down.  And Maccagnan, while declining to get into specifics, said that the Jets have fielded inquires from other teams. But he also said that the Jets would be fine staying where they are, too.

"From our standpoint, we feel pretty good at six right now," Maccagnan said, "and we've done a lot of work on this draft."

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Is Mixon on Jets' draft board?

Oklahoma running back Joe Mixon's talent is undeniable. But his 2014 arrest for punching a woman in the face, an incident that was captured on camera, makes him perhaps the the most controversial player in this draft.

Maccagnan refused to say if specifically if Mixon is on or off the Jets' draft board. But he strongly hinted that Mixon won't be in green and white next season.

"We take [domestic violence] very seriously," Maccagnan said, when asked about the issue in general. "I have no problem whatsoever taking a guy off our board from that standpoint."

Maccagnan also explained, generally, how the Jets go about evaluating players who have had past troubles or incidents with violence.

"Personal character is very important to me," Maccagnan said. "You basically do your due diligence, you almost do an investigation of it. ... You try to be fair, but you also try to make sure you don't miss something.

But I will say this, there are some things that are extremely egregious that I personally have a very hard time with condoning. And violence in particular -- that's a very serious thing to me. ... I would say, simply,  we don't take it lightly. And we'll make our decisions based on what we feel is in the best interest of the organization."

Notes

Maccagnan declined to say if the Jets will pick up the fifth-year option of safety Calvin Pryor, saying the team is focused on the draft right now and will take care of that after. The Jets have until May 3 to make a decision on Pryor's option. ... Maccagnan also declined to address the future of defensive lineman Sheldon Richardson -- specifically, if the Jets are open to trading Richardson during the draft. Richardson, who has been at the center of trade speculation for much of the last year, was spotted at the Jets' practice facility Monday afternoon.

Email: vasqueza@northjersey.com