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          NFL Nation

          In first post-trade mock, Mel Kiper changes QBs for Jets -- Josh Rosen

          • Rich Cimini, ESPN Staff WriterMar 28, 2018, 12:00 PM 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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          A lot has happened since our ESPN draft buddies, Mel Kiper Jr. and Todd McShay, updated their mock drafts. We're talking about two draft-altering events:

          Free-agent quarterback Kirk Cousins signed with the Minnesota Vikings, blowing off the New York Jets.

          The Jets swapped places with the Indianapolis Colts, moving up three spots to No. 3 overall.

          In his first post-Cousins, post-trade mock, revealed on Wednesday, Kiper has three quarterbacks at the top -- Josh Allen to the Cleveland Browns, Sam Darnold to the New York Giants and ... drum roll, please ...

          Josh Rosen to the Jets, which is a bit curious.

          In his previous mock, Kiper has the Jets taking Baker Mayfield at No. 6. This time, he believes they will pass on Mayfield. That's interesting because I've heard it the other way. As I noted on Sunday, the Jets/Mayfield buzz is gaining momentum in the scouting community.

          Rosen is the most polished passer in the draft and probably the most pro-ready among the Big Four. His former coach at UCLA, Jim Mora, didn't do him any favors this week. Appearing on the NFL Network, Mora said he'd pick Darnold over Rosen with the first pick because Darnold fits the city of Cleveland's blue-collar mentality.

          Mora's logic is twisted -- who picks a player based on city fit? -- but maybe it's telling.

          For what it's worth, Jets coach Todd Bowles praised Rosen at the NFL meetings in Orlando, Florida.

          "He can throw the football," Bowles said. "I think all of them coming out can throw the football very well, so it'll be a tough decision. ... We'll pick a good football player with our pick and kind of go from there."

          The knock on Rosen is durability (he's had concussions and shoulder injuries) and questions about his leadership and commitment to the game. One AFC scout told me, "He's Jay Cutler" -- and that wasn't meant in a positive light.

          Rosen also is outspoken. Two years ago, he played at a Donald Trump golf course wearing a baseball cap with an anti-Trump reference on it. It would be interesting if he's drafted by the Jets, considering owner Woody Johnson works for Trump as the U.S. ambassador to the United Kingdom.