It’s no secret among fans that the New York Jets might try to trade up in the NFL draft.
But with whom and for whom is a different story. Although the trade would undoubtedly be for a quarterback, how far up would the Jets need to go to nab one?
NFL.com’s Gennaro Filice has the Jets pulling the trigger from No. 7 in his first mock draft. Filice projects that the Jets will trade up two spots to No. 5 overall, swapping with the Jacksonville Jaguars. They will then select Colorado quarterback Shedeur Sanders.
Filice had this to say about the Jets’ selection.
“In the wake of the Aaron Rodgers era error, the Jets have a talented roster without a quarterback. At the moment, the free-agent crop at the position is headlined by Sam Darnold. Don’t think a Darnold-Jets reunion is on the table, so Gang Green leapfrogs the QB-needy Raiders to snag a signal-caller who certainly wouldn’t shy away from the bright lights of Broadway. New York tabloids rejoice.“
The New York tabloids would certainly rejoice to have such a polarizing figure to cover, replacing the daily intrigue of Aaron Rodgers. However, would Aaron Glenn and Darren Mougey want to begin their Jets tenure by bringing in a quarterback better known for his swagger than his play?
Scouting reports on Sanders indicate that he has average arm talent and average athleticism. His key traits are calmness, subtle movement within the pocket, and playing in phase.
For what it’s worth, Sanders’ profile screams “taller, bigger Bryce Young” to me. In fact, he even has some problems throwing over the middle, thought to be an issue for a shorter quarterback, despite his listed 6-foot-2 frame.
In Filice’s scenario, here is the top 10:
- Titans: QB Cam Ward
- Browns: EDGE Abdul Carter
- Giants: CB/WR Travis Hunter
- Patriots: OT Will Campbell
- Jets (trade with Jaguars): QB Shedeur Sanders
- Raiders: WR Tet McMillan
- Jaguars (trade with Jets): CB Will Johnson
- Panthers: DT Mason Graham
- Saints: EDGE Mykel Williams
- Bears: OT Kelvin Banks Jr.
This scenario also assumes that two quarterback-needy teams, the Browns and Giants, will forgo the position in the draft. Perhaps they will address it in free agency, but it is highly unlikely that the Giants’ front office, on the hot seat with a playoff mandate in 2025, will skip over quarterback.
Perhaps the Jets could nab Sanders at No. 5 if the other teams don’t see the value in taking him. However, what if the Jets want only Cam Ward? That could take a trade up to the very top of the draft, despite the lack of complete consensus over whether Ward or Sanders is the better prospect.
Either way, don’t be surprised to see this scenario crop up in mock drafts. Since the Jaguars ostensibly have their quarterback, they may look to trade out of the spot if one of the top quarterbacks is available.
If so, it remains to be seen whether the Jets will pounce.
