New Orleans Saints Forums - blackandgold.com - Jets close to deal with Runyan? Big implications for Brick..

Quote:

Runyan weighing options
<Mar. 24> Runyan is expected to decide in the next couple of days whether he'll remain with the Eagles or sign with the Jets. According to the New York Daily News, the free-agent right tackle is leaning toward taking the Jets' offer.
"Coach [Eric] Mangini and his staff made an excellent impression on Jon," Runyan's agent, Ben Dogra, said in an e-mail. "Philly has been home for Jon for a long time, and that makes it a difficult decision for him."

Runyan, who visited the Jets on Tuesday and Wedneseday, has said he would prefer to remain in Philly, but he doesn't want to sell himself short on what will likely be his last NFL contract. The 32-year-old is the only player who has started for the Eagles at right tackle in the last six seasons.

Although it's just speculation from a newspaper in New York, think about what could happen if the Jets did end up signing Runyan. They would not have to use their first round pick on an OT, like Brick. This is one of the biggest reasons why the Saints are being said to be thinking about keeping the number one pick, because they're scared that if they trade down, somebody else is going to take Brick. The Jets seemed like the most obvious choice to do that. If the NYJ do come to terms with Runyan, they wouldn't really need to draft Brick with so many other holes on that team (including QB). So let's look at the other teams in the draft after us that we would be scared of taking Brick before us:

3. Titans - will probably take the best QB available
4. Jets - if they sign Runyan, will probably trade up for Leinart, or sit bakc and take Mario Williams
5. Packers - probably take a defensive player, ie. Mario or Hawk; OT is not a need for them
6. 49ers - will probably take Vernon Davis, Huff, or Jimmy Smith; but they have no need for an OT
7. Raiders- depending on if VY is still there, the Raiders might take a QB, but probably not an OT because it isn't a real position of need. They need a QB, OG, CB, and DT. Ngata? Jimmy Williams?
8. Bills - the Bills do need a tackle. The buck stops here.

As you can see, if the Jets sign Runyan, we can probably trade all the way down to at lowest #7 and still have a chance at getting Brick. I realistically see us going to the Jets at #4 so they can take Leinart, and we take Brick at #4. That's the best scenario in my opinion.