The New York Jets need a new quarterback this offseason. Justin Fields didn't work out, Tyrod Taylor isn't expected to return, and Brady Cook struggled in his rookie season.
While the Jets could go after a top free agent or trade target, the ideal would be to take a rookie quarterback in the 2026 NFL Draft to be the future of the franchise. But, with Fernando Mendoza the only first-round caliber QB, the Jets are not in a good spot.
If the Jets could trade up with the Las Vegas Raiders, they could land their QB of the future. But, as ESPN's Jeremy Fowler found by asking scouts and NFL executives, the Jets got some bad news on their odds to trade with the Raiders for the first overall pick.
Jets get bad news on trade up with Raiders
Fowler asked eight NFL scouts and executives if the Raiders would be keeping their first overall pick to take Indiana Hoosiers quarterback Fernando Mendoza. The answers are not good news for the Jets.
"To executives and scouts, the answer to this question is clear-cut: There's zero chance the Raiders move out of the top spot and pass on drafting the QB out of Indiana," Fowler writes.
While the odds of the Jets being able to convince the Raiders to move off of Mendoza were slim, if they offered something hard to refuse, like two extra first-round picks along with second overall, the Jets might've been able to pry Mendoza from the Raiders.
But, based on this voting, 8-0 in favor of the Raiders keeping the pick, the Jets' odds to trade up seem essentially zero.
More: Jets get shaky $13 million contract projection on injury-prone offensive guard
One AFC executive told Fowler," Never say never, but never." The Jets, or any team around the NFL, are not going to be able to trade up to first overall.
Fowler, noting that there's "zero chance" the Raiders move on from the first overall pick, essentially cements the Jets into finding their quarterback by other means.
Whether it's a trade, a free agent signing, or a quarterback like Ty Simpson down the board, the Jets need a plan that doesn't involve a blockbuster trade-up for Mendoza.
There wasn't much doubt that this would be the scenario the Jets had to figure out, but this update from Fowler all but confirms the Jets won't be landing Mendoza, no matter how good an offer they give to the Raiders.
More Jets news: