Jets Trade Up Again, Get Shonn Greene

In most drafts, the thought of giving up a handful of picks to move up the board and take a flier on a player usually smacks of desperation. History is littered with examples, none bigger than the Chargers trading up for Ryan Leaf.

But 2009 is different. It's a decidedly weak class, and players who went in the first round on Saturday would be lucky to hear their names called on Day 1 in other years. Which is why the Jets have happily traded up and jettisoned picks all weekend: they have a few needs, targeted specific players, and went out and got them.

On Saturday, they moved up to No. 5 to take quarterback Mark Sanchez. It cost them their '09 first- and second-round picks, but New York engineered another trade to start the third round. They moved up to 65th, sending a third- (76th), a fourth- (115th) and a seventh-rounder (228th) to Detroit for the right to draft running back Shonn Greene.

Now New York is left with just a sixth-round pick. But they also come out of the weekend with a franchise quarterback, a punishing running back to complement Thomas Jones and Leon Washington, and a defensive mastermind in Rex Ryan. As for the five picks they traded away for these two players: who cares?

Nobody will remember that if Sanchez stabilizes the quarterback position, and if Greene helps make Sanchez's transition smoother. And if you're looking for the glass-half-full perspective: Ryan might tell you the Jets have two first-rounders this year because Vernon Gholston played like he wasn't on the team as a rookie in 2008. And if anybody can squeeze the most out of player, it's Ryan.

NFL Draft Photos

Cleveland Browns general manager George Kokinis, left, and head coach Eric Mangini answer questions regarding the NFL Draft, Saturday, April 25, 2009, in Berea, Ohio. The Browns made three trades in the first round before selecting California center Alex Mack at No. 21. (AP Photo/Tony Dejak)

Mark Sanchez, the New York Jets 2009 NFL Draft first round pick, speaks to reporters during a news conference in Anaheim, Calif. on Saturday, April 25, 2009. (AP Photo/Hector Mata)

Cleveland Browns general manager George Kokinis answers questions about the NFL draft, Saturday, April 25, 2009, in Berea, Ohio. The Browns made three trades in the first round before selecting California center Alex Mack at No. 21. (AP Photo/Tony Dejak)

Mark Sanchez, the New York Jets 2009 NFL Draft first round pick, speaks to reporters during a news conference in Anaheim, Calif. on Saturday, April 25, 2009. (AP Photo/Hector Mata)

Mark Sanchez, the New York Jets first round draft pick, speaks to reporters during a news conference in Anaheim, Calif. on Saturday, April 25, 2009. (AP Photo/Hector Mata)

Mark Sanchez,the New York Jets 2009 NFL Draft first round pick, speaks to reporters during a news conference in Anaheim, Calif. on Saturday, April 25, 2009. (AP Photo/Hector Mata)

Mark Sanchez, the New York Jets 2009 NFL Draft first round pick, speaks to reporters during a news conference in Anaheim, Calif. on Saturday, April 25, 2009. (AP Photo/Hector Mata)

Cleveland Browns head coach Eric Mangini, right, listens as Browns general manager George Kokinis answers questions about the NFL Draft Saturday, April 25, 2009, in Berea, Ohio. The Browns made three trades in the first round before selecting California center Alex Mack at No. 21. (AP Photo/Tony Dejak)

New England Patriots coach Bill Belichick discusses The Patriots 2009 NFL Draft choices during a press conference at Gillette Stadium in Foxborough, Mass. Saturday April 25, 2009. (AP Photo/Stew Milne)