'Skeptical!' New York Jets Insider Reveals Trade Market for NFL Draft

The New York Jets could go in any direction with the 10th pick, but trading down seems like a possibility that is shrinking with every quarterback update.

Oct 8, 2022; Stanford, California, USA; Oregon State Beavers offensive lineman Taliese Fuaga (75) / Darren Yamashita-USA TODAY Sports

New York Jets general manager Joe Douglas has earned himself some breathing room and flexibility as the offseason rolls along.

Having checked the Jets’ biggest needs – three new offensive lineman and a starting boundary receiver – off, Douglas has satisfied the New York faithful who loudly voiced their displeasure after a quiet start to the legal tampering period.

Now, satiated by team-friendly deals and high-upside signings, fans can eagerly await the NFL Draft. The Jets pay stay put at No. 10, but with little in the form of a truly pressing need, the opportunity to trade down and recoup additional draft picks has crossed everyone’s mind.

Oct 8, 2022; Stanford, California, USA; Oregon State Beavers offensive lineman Taliese Fuaga (75) / Darren Yamashita-USA TODAY Sports

The Athletic’s Zack Rosenblatt isn’t so sure.

“I’m a little more skeptical that they’ll have really meaningful trade-back options because if four quarterbacks are gone – people trade up for quarterbacks and sometimes edge rushers,” Rosenblatt said. “And I think this is a talented edge rusher class but I don’t think there’s anyone that anyone is going to trade a lot to go up and get a guy.”

While New York should be rooting for as many quarterbacks to go before Gang Green’s pick as possible, thus opening the door for a “better” best player available, such a development could stymie the landing spots for a hypothetical trade down.

If LSU’s Jayden Daniels and Michigan’s J.J. McCarthy find themselves selected in the first handful of picks, it likely wouldn’t be worth it for teams to trade up – at least not while giving up anything of significance.

As such, the Jets will likely be more inclined to take one of the top pass catchers available, presumably Washington’s Rome Odunze, LSU’s Malik Nabers, or Georgia tight end Brock Bowers. Douglas may also choose an offensive lineman in hopes of building a pipeline of talented linemen, rather than the absence the Jets saw last year.  

“Unless they’re willing to trade back and let somebody else take one of these receivers, which I think would piss Jets fans off, as much as anything, and Aaron Rodgers,” Rosenblatt said. “I think they stay at 10 and I think if I’m predicting right now, I think it ends up being [Taliese] Fuaga from Oregon State or Brock Bowers.”

A lineman may not be an exciting pick, especially after recent first-round selection Mekhi Becton didn’t pan out. But there are far riskier investments than first-round linemen and there’s a very real possibility New York needs two starting tackles this time next year.

Perhaps a trade down is possible in the event some team falls in love with a particular non-quarterback the Jets are willing to let slip. However, the current stock of this class’ quarterbacks may end up limiting the flexibility Douglas earned himself.