If the Jets are going to trade Darrelle Revis — and the noise is growing louder by the day that they will — they must fetch no less than a first- and third-round draft pick for him.
That was a consensus from several NFL scouts The Post spoke with on the condition of anonymity at Wednesday’s Rutgers pre-draft pro day inside its practice bubble.
“Two first-rounders and a three; that’s what I would be asking for,’’ one NFC scout said. “For Keyshawn Johnson [the Jets in 2000] got two No. 1 picks and with Revis we are talking about the best defensive player in the league.’’
Another NFC scout said, “They have to get at least what the Vikings got for Percy Harvin,’’ referring to Minnesota getting a first and seventh-rounder this year and a mid-round pick in 2014 in its trade of Harvin to the Seahawks on Tuesday.
There was split thinking among the scouts about when a Revis trade might take place.
There are some who believe the Jets are so desperate to get something for Revis before he bolts as a free agent after 2013 they might cave before next month’s draft and settle for compensation below market value for him.
This, of course, would be an immediate indelible stain on new general manager John Idzik’s record — hardly a way for him to ingratiate himself to Jets fans who already are irate at the state of the team.
There are others who believe Idzik, known in league circles as a conservative, patient man, will take a deep breath and allow the process to play out into the season — let Revis return in training camp and play into the 2013 season to see that he is still the same dominant cornerback he was before he blew out his knee last September.
“His stock is going to be no higher than it is now for what they’re going to get for him before he plays again,’’ one scout said. “If they want something for this draft … I think there will be a team out there that’s willing to pay that price [a first rounder and more]. These guys come back from these ACLs like it’s nothing now.’’
The latest team rumored to be interested in Revis is Tampa Bay, which has some $30 million in salary cap space and is in need of cornerback help.
“If I was Tampa it would be a no-brainer,’’ an NFC scout said. “Our quarterback is scared to death to throw anywhere near Revis. This guy shuts down half the field. With Tampa’s situation, they don’t have a front-line corner. You know what having Revis can do for [the Buccaneers] in that division [the NFC South] with receivers like [Atlanta’s] Roddy White and Julio Jones and Carolina’s Steve Smith?’’
The consensus among the scouts who spoke to The Post was the Jets should not trade Revis.
“This is an elite player and he should be treated as such,’’ one said.
“If they can’t get what they want for him [now], then wait until the trading deadline or at least until September to see how he recovers,’’ another said. “But if he’s balling [playing well], I don’t know if I trade him.’’
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Rutgers cornerback Logan Ryan, who’s projected to be perhaps the school’s top-rated player available for the NFL Draft, has been working out with Revis at the Arizona facility where Revis has been rehabbing his left knee this winter.
Ryan, who shares the same agents as Revis, said “hopefully’’ he was “successful’’ picking Revis’ brain.
“You hear a lot about the guy. You hear a lot about the great ones and what they do,’’ Ryan said. “But to really see what he was doing rehabbing his knee with all the stuff with media going on with him and seeing him so focused with the way he works every single day makes you realize why he’s as good as he is.
“A lot of pro guys train there but a lot of those guys come in two or three times a week. He’s there five to seven times a week. To me, it’s obvious why he’s great. I am not a doctor, but I know he’s working hard and I don’t think he’s going to lose a step at all — if not get better, like Adrian Peterson did.’’
Ryan said “the people around’’ Revis might think the trade talk is distracting to him, “but he’s got laser focus on coming back 100 percent and being a great player.’’
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Among a number of Rutgers alums who came to the pro day to support the program was Ray Rice, the Super Bowl-winning running back.
Asked about the rash of personnel losses the Ravens have endured in the last week, parting ways with several key members of the championship team, Rice said, “It’s always tough losing guys that you bonded with. But that’s what the NFL is. I’ve never crossed that line, saying they should do this or that. Who am I? I’m just part of a great team and I work there.’’