NEW YORK _ Even if the Jets are infatuated with free-agent QB Kirk Cousins, they would be better off if he picks the Vikings. Even if the Giants are infatuated with Penn State RB Saquon Barkley, they should hope the Browns take him first overall.
Why?
The Giants are picking second and the Jets are picking sixth in the April 26 draft that is top-heavy with four QBs _ Sam Darnold, Josh Rosen, Josh Allen and Baker Mayfield _ expected to go in the first 10 picks. The Jets need to forget about the soon-to-be 30-year-old Cousins and his $30 million a year price tag and develop their own guy to be the face of their young team. The Giants haven't picked this high since the Lawrence Taylor draft in 1981 and it's their first time back in the top five since 2004 and they hope it's at least another 14 years before they are in the top five again. So despite being delusional how much they believe Eli Manning has left, they need to make an investment in the future and select the next Eli.
When the 48-hour legal tampering period opens Monday and the signing period starts Wednesday, the Jets should stay away from Cousins and the Giants should buy some solid free-agent pieces in the short term for Manning and in the long-term for their new franchise quarterback.
