The Jets want to trade back.
Mike Maccagnan has made that abundantly clear in the days and weeks leading up to the draft. The next step, though, is finding a suitable trade partner that actually offers solid compensation.
Recouping draft capital is incredibly important to the Jets after they gave up three second-round picks to move up from No. 6 to No. 3 in 2018 to select Sam Darnold. If Maccagnan can pull off the right trade, the Jets should still be in a position to take one of the many great defensive talents.
Any trade would most likely be to select one of the top quarterbacks in this year’s draft. If Kyler Murray falls, the bidding war for the third overall pick would be tremendous. What’s more likely to happen, however, is teams looking to jump up for Dwyane Haskins, Drew Lock or Daniel Jones.
With that in mind, here are four realistic trade packages for the Jets’ No. 3 overall pick.
Oakland Raiders (No. 4)
It would only be a one spot ascension for the Raiders, but if Oakland wants a quarterback it might have to jump up to the third pick to secure him. Luckily, the Raiders have two other first-rounders so trading up wouldn’t decimate their draft strategy.
There are few situations which would warrant such a trade with the Jets: if Murray falls or the Raiders feel another team will jump up and take one of the other quarterbacks they covet.
The Jets would most likely want a package similar to what the Bears gave the 49ers in the 2017 draft to move from No. 3 to No. 2. In order to secure Mitchell Trubisky, the Bears traded the No. 3 pick, a third and fourth in 2017 and a third in 2018 to the 49ers. A trade like this would be incredible for New York, which would still be in a position to take one of the top defensive players.
Potential trade:
Raiders give up their No. 4 overall pick, No. 35 overall pick and No. 218 overall pick for the Jets’ No. 3 overall pick.
New York Giants (No. 6)
The Giants seem content with taking Daniel Jones with the No. 6 pick, but they may need to trade up if they feel pressure from any other teams, or if they’re actually targeting a different player. They also own the No. 17 pick, so a move up would make sense to ensure they get their man.
It would be hard for the Jets to ask for both of the Giants’ first-rounders in only a three-spot move, but it wouldn’t be difficult to get some extra early or mid-round picks. That would allow the Jets to grab some more young talent outside of the first round.
Potential trade:
Giants give up No. 6 overall pick, No. 37 overall pick, No. 108 overall pick for the Jets’ No. 3 overall pick.
Washington Redskins (No. 15)
The Redskins need a quarterback despite trading for Case Keenum, and they seem adamant about drafting Dwayne Haskins. It’s tough to see the Ohio State quarterback falling all the way to No. 15, so a trade with the Jets would make a lot of sense, especially since the Redskins have already been linked to trading up for the pick.
Moving up 12 spots would take a lot, but the trade would almost certainly include a future first and a couple of extra picks early in this draft – something the Jets desperately desire.
Potential trade:
Redskins give up No. 15 overall pick, No. 76 overall pick, No. 96 overall pick, a 2020 first-round pick and a 2020 third-round pick for the Jets’ No. 3 overall pick and No. 196 overall pick.
Cincinnati Bengals (No. 11)
The Bengals are a bit of a darkhorse candidate, if only because no one really knows what they’re planning. New head coach Zac Taylor is a former quarterback coach, so it would only make sense he’d want to bring in a young gunslinger to groom rather than work with an aging Andy Dalton.
With a solid core of young offensive playmakers in A.J. Green, Tyler Boyd, and Joe Mixon, adding in a new quarterback could be an infusion the Bengals need to compete in a suddenly open AFC North. The trade could be tough without a whole lot of extra picks, but if the Bengals offer a 2020 first-rounder and more it might be better for the Jets to stay within striking distance of some of the better pass rushing talent at No. 11.
Potential trade:
Bengals give up No. 11 overall pick, No. 42 overall pick, No. 72 overall pick and a 2020 first-round pick for the Jets’ No. 3 overall pick and No. 196 overall pick.
