The San Francisco 49ers and Miami Dolphins completed a major trade that suggests Sam Darnold’s Jets days are numbered.
Friday marked a huge shake-up for the 2021 NFL draft, as the San Francisco 49ers and the Miami Dolphins completed a huge trade.
The 49ers have moved up to the No. 3 spot in the draft. In doing so, they traded their 12th overall selection, a 2021 third-round pick, and first-round picks in 2022 and 2023.
Filed to ESPN: Dolphins trading No. 3 overall pick to the San Francisco 49ers for the No. 12 pick, a 2021 third-round pick (SF’s comp pick for Robert Saleh hiring) and first-round picks in 2022 and 2023, per sources.
Blockbuster deal with massive ramifications for years to come. pic.twitter.com/nRLMUaWGo5
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) March 26, 2021
Shortly after that, the Dolphins made another trade. This time it was with the Philadelphia Eagles.
The Dolphins moved back up to sixth overall. In exchange, Miami gave Philly its 12th overall and 2022 first-round pick. The two teams also exchanged mid-round selections.
Eagles traded their sixth to the Dolphins for No. 12 and their 2022 first-round pick. Teams also swapped mid-round picks — Eagles' pick 156 for No. 123.
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) March 26, 2021
How does it impact the Jets?
First, we’ll start with the 49ers. It’s been rumored that the team had been trying to move into the top five, and getting the third overall pick solidifies the team’s quarterback aspirations.
This leads one to believe that the team also knows who the Jets plan on selecting with their second overall pick and believe they will have their guy ready to be drafted when they are on the clock.
Whether or not the Niners tried to move into the two-hole is the question of the moment. It appears that’s not the case, per Schefter.
49ers have been attempting to move into top five picks for several weeks now, per sources. They discussed trading up with Dolphins at 3, Falcons at 4, Bengals at 5 and ultimately decided to go as high as they could, per sources. There were no trade-up talks with the Jets at 2.
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) March 26, 2021
Remember, the Jets and Niners are closely connected now thanks to Robert Saleh’s offseason activity. Perhaps San Fran knows (better than most) what Douglas is going to do at No. 2.
2. The Niners probably know who the Jets are taking at 2, since those coaching staffs are as close as any two coaching staffs in the league, which means the Niners know which QB they’re getting at 3.
— Dan Graziano (@DanGrazianoESPN) March 26, 2021
As for the Dolphins, the trade worked out extremely well for them. It also showed two things going forward.
The first being that Tua Tagovailoa’s job is safe—as it should be. Speculation ran rampant that the team could potentially look to move on from the Alabama product, but trading the third overall pick ensures his job security.
Moving up again to the sixth overall selection also tells us that the team has an elite playmaker in mind, one they assume will still be on the board. One would have to assume that this is Ja’Marr Chase, the consensus No. 1 wide receiver in the 2021 draft class. But regardless, the team still holds plenty of versatility at sixth overall.
Beyond that, it sets up the Jets’ rival well for multiple years. The Dolphins may have given up a 2022 first-round selection to move into the sixth overall pick, but they still hold an extra third-round selection in that year.
Play: 👉 the Jet X Offseason Simulator
The team also has two 2023 first-round picks now, giving incredible flexibility to a team that’s showing potential to be on the cusp of sustainable success.
Lastly, this major trade lets one assume that the writing is on the wall for Sam Darnold.
With the haul that the Dolphins received, it hard to believe that Joe Douglas would have rejected the haul Miami received if the team had faith in Darnold moving forward. (Sure, the Schefter report claims the Jets and Niners didn’t have discussions, but the idea that Douglas wasn’t in on something like that if he had already decided on Darnold is tough to believe.) The Niners’ eagerness to trade up suggests they’d also call the Jets who hold the key to the draft (the two-spot).
Zach Wilson’s phenomenal pro day combined with this blockbuster Miami Dolphins-San Francisco 49ers deal suggests the New York Jets will be moving in a new direction at quarterback this offseason.
Whether or not that becomes reality is something only time will determine.
