In regards to that pick, two players were on the Jets’ radar. One was Ohio State offensive lineman Orlando Pace, who was coming out of school a year early. The other was Tennessee quarterback Peyton Manning, who had graduated from school in three years but still had a year of eligibility left, yet was expected by many to come out for the draft. Manning announced he would return to Tennessee for his senior season, and instead of taking Pace with the #1 pick the Jets traded it to the St. Louis Rams. The Jets instead drafted Virginia linebacker James Farrior.