Breece Hall, Jets
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A snapshot from a contest between the New York Jets and the Los Angeles Chargers.
The New York Jets have a lot of assets, but you can never have enough.
ESPN’s Bill Barnwell proposed a trade that would allow the green and white to triple one of their draft picks.
Los Angeles Chargers receive: a 2026 first-round pick (No. 16 overall)
New York Jets receive: a 2026 first-round pick (No. 22 overall), a 2026 third-round pick (No. 86 overall), and a 2027 third-round pick
“Joe Hortiz’s trades up over his two years as Chargers general manager have been fruitful, with the former Ravens executive landing Ladd McConkey in 2024 and Oronde Gadsden in 2025. Though the Chargers can always justify adding more around Justin Herbert and could focus on the interior of their offensive line here, I still think their most likely target will be on the edge, where Odafe Oweh left in free agency, Khalil Mack is 35 years old, and Tuli Tuipulotu is about to get a much more lucrative contract. Finding a player on a low-cost deal across from Tuipulotu has to be one of Hortiz’s biggest priorities in this year’s draft,” Barnwell wrote.
“He’s just stuck behind a few teams that could all be looking at edge help, including the Lions at No. 17 and the Cowboys at No. 20. Getting up past the Ravens and Bucs would be ideal, but if someone such as Keldric Faulk (Auburn) or Mesidor is still on the board at No. 16, moving up in a swap with the Jets would be one way to lock in a player who projects as a long-term starter at a position of need for the Chargers. The Jets would pick up two Day 2 selections, including one in the 2027 draft,” Barnwell added.
There Isn’t a More Perfect Trade out There for the Jets
If this trade actually happened on draft day, I don’t think you can do much better if you’re the Jets.
This hits all the right notes. General manager Darren Mougey could wave his magic wand, turning one draft asset into three.
In the 2026 NFL draft, the Jets don’t have a third-round pick. You can thank the previous regime’s trade with the Philadelphia Eagles for Haason Reddick for that parting gift.
In this trade back, they would get that pick back. That would give the Jets five picks inside the top-100 in this draft:
First round: No. 2 overall
First round: No. 22 overall
Second round: No. 33 overall
Second round: No. 44 overall
Third round: No. 86 overall
That could help fill a lot of holes, and all it costs you is a slight trade back in the first round.
The 2027 NFL Draft Looms
General manager Darren Mougey was asked how the 2027 NFL draft plays a factor in his conversations in the 2026 NFL draft at the Annual League Meetings.
He totally downplayed it, saying they’re focused on this year and next year doesn’t come up much.
NFL Network’s Judy Battista told me on “Boy Green Daily” that it’s a bunch of malarkey.
Of course, it factors in, how couldn’t it?
In this trade-down scenario, the Jets also picked up an important asset in the 2027 NFL draft. The team is motivated to stockpile picks in that draft for the great quarterback war next year.
In a perfect situation, the Jets finish in a prime position to land a QB of their dreams organically. However, if they aren’t in that position, they will want as many picks at their disposal so they can use them to trade up and go get their guy.