Yesterday, when Jets GM Mike Tannenbaum made himself available for a pre-draft interview with reporters, he was asked the obvious question:
“Who are you going to draft?”
“I can tell you right now,” Tannenbaum said, sounding for a moment like he was about to reveal some news, “I really don’t know what we’re going to do.”
Tannenbaum would not reveal the Jets’ plans with their No. 4 overall pick in next Saturday’s first round, or any other rounds for that matter. He did, however, confirm he has had talks with other teams about trading up or down from No. 4.
“We could trade up; we could trade back,” Tannenbaum said. “I really don’t know. We’re going to see how the process plays out.”
Tannenbaum did, however, sound almost definite about the fact the Jets will address the quarterback position in some manner in this draft.
The Jets don’t, however, appear to be leaning toward taking a quarterback with their top pick.
Though Tannenbaum danced around the question, it appears, although the Jets did a lot of homework on the top-rated QBs – USC’s Matt Leinart, Texas’ Vince Young and Vanderbilt’s Jay Cutler – it was legwork and smokescreens.
“Those three players have had well-documented successes,” Tannenbaum said. “They all have their strengths. As we get to next weekend we’ll see how the scenarios play out.”
It seems most likely the Jets will use a second-round pick on Alabama QB Brodie Croyle or Oregon QB Kellen Clemens.
“Sure, quarterback is a situation we’re looking at closely,” Tannenbaum said. “Like every position, we would like to improve . . . its depth and competitiveness. We’re going to try to add some competition there.”
The Texans own the first overall pick and will, barring some extraordinary circumstance, select USC running back Reggie Bush. If for some reason the Texans don’t take Bush, the Jets will think long and hard about making a run at him by trading up to the second spot. But they likely will have a lot of company.
Should the Jets stay at No. 4 and Virginia OT D’Brickashaw Ferguson is available, the Jets likely will draft him and address the QB position either later in the first round at No. 29 or in the second round at No. 35.
That seems to be the way they’re leaning . . . today, anyway.
mark.cannizzaro@nypost.com