Jets trade up to draft Bryce Petty
— -- FLORHAM PARK, N.J. -- The New York Jets' unsettled quarterback situation became more interesting on Saturday when they traded up in the fourth round to select Bryce Petty of Baylor.
The Jets moved up one spot to select Petty, swapping places with the Jacksonville Jaguars. They also sent a seventh-round choice to the Jaguars.
The Jaguars apparently received considerable interest from other teams that were presumably targeting Petty.
Petty was the fifth quarterback chosen, behind Jameis Winston, Marcus Mariota, Garrett Grayson and Sean Mannion.
"That was the longest 48 hours I've ever had in my life," Petty told reporters shortly after being selected.
Petty will be added to a depth chart that includes incumbent Geno Smith and veteran Ryan Fitzpatrick, who was acquired in March in a trade with the Houston Texans.
The Jets haven't named a starter, saying Smith and Fitzpatrick will compete in training camp. Coach Todd Bowles has said Smith will go into training camp as the No. 1 quarterback, but he added that could change.
Smith, only 10-18 as a starter, is coming off another inconsistent season. The organization has questions as to whether he can be the long-term answer. By picking a quarterback in the fourth round, they have someone who might be able to compete for the job in 2016.
Petty passed for 8,195 yards in four seasons at Baylor, with 62 touchdowns and only 10 interceptions. The knock on him is that he's a system quarterback who might not be able to thrive outside a spread system.
The Jets, under new offensive coordinator Chan Gailey, will operate an offense that incorporates some concepts of a spread offense.
The 6-foot-3, 230-pound Petty took a pre-draft visit to the Jets and said he was "excited" upon hearing Gailey's plans for the offense.
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