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          NFL Nation

          Here's how Jets would approach sixth pick if they sign Kirk Cousins

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          Cousins: 'I wanna win' (0:35)

          Kirk Cousins chats with Adam Schefter to explain that his decision will be based on winning, and not about the money. (0:35)

          • Rich Cimini, ESPN Staff WriterFeb 3, 2018, 07:00 AM ET
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              Rich Cimini is a staff writer who covers the New York Jets and the NFL at ESPN. Rich has covered the Jets for over 30 years, joining ESPN in 2010. Rich also hosts the Flight Deck podcast. He previously was a beat writer for the New York Daily News and is a graduate of Syracuse University. You can follow him via Twitter @RichCimini.
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          Hardly a surprise, but our New York Jets question of the week involves Kirk Cousins. An optimistic fan asks how the team's draft strategy would be impacted if they sign the soon-to-be free quarterback.

          @RichCimini: I totally agree with you; they need serious help on offense. Problem is, the ideal choice -- Penn State running back Saquon Barkley -- probably will be off the board. Some draft analysts rate him as the best overall player, so it's hard to imagine him slipping to No. 6. If he does, it's a no-brainer for the Jets. A Cousins-Barkley tandem in the backfield would certainly represent a major upgrade from 2017.

          After Barkley, there's a dropoff in offensive talent. The next-best skill-position player (of the non-quarterback variety) probably is Alabama wide receiver Calvin Ridley, but he's regarded as a middle-of-the-round prospect. Guard Quenton Nelson is good enough to crack the top 10, so he'd have to be a consideration. It wouldn't be a sexy pick, but some believe he can be just as dominating as fellow Notre Damer Zack Martin of the Dallas Cowboys. Anybody who watched the Jets knows they could use a road grader on their offensive line.

          If the Jets sign Cousins, the best scenario -- absent Barkley -- would be trading down. That way, they could get additional picks and a potential weapon on offense. The sixth pick will increase in value if a highly-coveted quarterback is available, perhaps sparking a bidding war.

          One thing we know about general manager Mike Maccagnan is he lives by the "best-player-available" philosophy, which means -- you guessed it ... a strong possibility that he goes defense at No. 6. The Jets haven't used a first-round pick on an offensive player since Mark Sanchez in 2009, but two of the best non-quarterbacks in the draft are North Carolina State defensive end Bradley Chubbs and Alabama cornerback Minkah Fitzpatrick.

          The Jets need an edge rusher and a shutdown corner, so either one would fill a need. The concern with Chubbs is that he's a tweener for a 3-4 defense. Fitzpatrick, too, is a tweener because he played safety and corner in college.

          It's never simple for the Jets.