Two reported suitors have emerged as candidates to trade for Los Angeles Rams quarterback Matthew Stafford. Neither is the New York Jets, but the news could still have significant implications for the Jets’ pursuit of a quarterback.
According to Dianna Russini of The Athletic, Stafford has “attracted significant interest” from the Las Vegas Raiders and New York Giants.
If Stafford is ultimately dealt to the Raiders or Giants, it could affect the Jets in multiple ways.
Could a quarterback fall to No. 7?
As things stand, the Jets are the fifth team in the draft order that could potentially draft a quarterback:
- Titans (Yes)
- Browns (Yes)
- Giants (Yes)
- Patriots (No)
- Jaguars (No)
- Raiders (Yes)
- Jets (Yes)
Both of the teams in contention for Stafford are ahead of the Jets in the draft order. If he lands with one of them, it would most likely eliminate them from drafting a quarterback. While we cannot completely rule out a QB selection post-Stafford trade after seeing what the Falcons pulled off last year (drafting Michael Penix Jr. after signing Kirk Cousins), it seems highly unlikely that a team going all-in on a short window with the aging Stafford would blow a top-six pick on someone who does not help them win immediately.
Thus, the Jets would likely become the fourth QB-needy team in the draft order.
This would increase the chances that one of the top two quarterback prospects, Cam Ward and Shedeur Sanders, falls to the Jets at No. 7. At the moment, this is considered unlikely – the consensus mock draft has Ward going No. 2 to Cleveland and Sanders going No. 3 to the Giants – but it is not viewed as impossible. For instance, ESPN’s Mel Kiper Jr. recently mocked Sanders to the Jets at No. 7.
However, considering the demand for quarterbacks in the NFL, it would be surprising if one of these two quarterbacks made it past four QB-needy teams (and any potential trade-up candidates) to reach the Jets at No. 7. Remove one of those teams, though, and it suddenly feels a little more realistic.
While the Titans need a quarterback and could still end up drafting one, they do not seem enamored by the quarterback class, as evidenced by their openness to trade the pick. Resultingly, the overwhelming favorite to be selected by Tennessee (if they stay put) is Penn State edge rusher Abdul Carter at 43% in the consensus mock draft.
That would leave two more QB-needy teams before the Jets: the Browns and either the Giants or Raiders. Let’s say that Stafford goes to Las Vegas. If Carter goes No. 1 and Cleveland takes its preferred quarterback, the Giants would have the golden opportunity to take two-way phenom Travis Hunter third overall. If the Giants took Hunter, that would leave the Jets as the next QB-needy team in the order with one of Ward or Sanders still on the board.
Trade up for a QB?
While the chances of a quarterback falling to No. 7 would undoubtedly rise if Stafford goes to New York or Las Vegas, they would still be low. Perhaps the likelier implication of a Stafford trade is that the Jets’ window to trade up for a quarterback would widen.
With four QB-needy teams ahead of them and only two prospects considered worthy of a top-10 pick, the Jets’ only current options to guarantee a worthy prospect would be to trade up to No. 1 or No. 2. Either option would cost the Jets a fortune, one that first-year general manager Darren Mougey probably does not want to pay as he kickstarts his retooling of the roster.
However, if you remove the Giants or Raiders as a QB-needy team, less expensive trade-up options could emerge. Let’s say Stafford goes to the Giants. In that case, the only team the Jets have to worry about if Ward or Sanders gets past No. 2 is the Raiders at No. 6. The Jets could leapfrog the Raiders and secure their man by swinging a deal with Jacksonville to move up only two spots. It would still be costly, but significantly less so than skyrocketing all the way to the top pick.
All of these scenarios are purely hypothetical – the Jets also have to compete against other QB-needy teams who will be attempting to leapfrog them – but they illustrate some of the possibilities that might be created if a Stafford trade goes through.
Barring a shocking turn of events, Matthew Stafford will not be a Jet, but if he finds a new home in 2025, there is a slight chance it could be the move that directly leads to the Jets finding their next franchise quarterback.
