For as much time as fans and analysts spend projecting what an NFL team will do with each of its draft picks, most teams will end up with a much different assortment of selections when the draft is all said and done.
That’s because of everyone’s favorite “T” word: Trades!
Draft-day trades are arguably the most exciting aspect of the draft experience. It is always fascinating to ponder why a team decided to move up or down the draft board.
The New York Jets have the most valuable collection of picks in the 2026 draft, highlighted by four top-45 selections. That makes them prime candidates to execute a trade-up move, if they so please.
However, New York also has a 59-slot gap between their fourth choice (No. 44, second round) and their fifth choice (No. 103, fourth round), which could entice them to trade down and try to recoup a third-round pick.
With all of that in mind, here are three NFL teams who project as potential trade partners for the Jets on draft day.
Los Angeles Rams
The Jets desperately need help at wide receiver. It’s why the majority of mock drafts have them selecting a wideout with the 16th overall pick.
However, the board is uniquely situated so that the Jets may not be able to land their preferred receiver if they stand pat at No. 16.
According to the consensus big board at NFL Mock Draft Database, the top three receivers are each ranked as top-15 overall prospects: Ohio State’s Carnell Tate (No. 8), USC’s Makai Lemon (No. 13), and Arizona State’s Jordyn Tyson (No. 15). The fourth-ranked player is Indiana’s Omar Cooper Jr., who ranks down at No. 23.
Based on the big board, the top three receivers may be gone by No. 16, which would force the Jets to either reach on a receiver to fill the need (at least based on the consensus) or take the best player available at another position and address the receiver spot later on.
The Jets, of course, may have the receivers ranked much differently than the consensus big board, in which case, they may be plenty comfortable taking Cooper or someone like Denzel Boston with the 16th pick. They may also despise the receiver class and have no plans to draft one at No. 16 whatsoever.
But if the consensus big board is similar to the Jets’ board and that of most NFL teams, then New York might feel compelled to trade up a few spots, looking to secure the rights to one of the top three receivers.
The Los Angeles Rams, who are situated at No. 13, could be an excellent target. Based on the consensus big board, it’s a spot where one of Lemon or Tyson may still be available, but they could each be taken by the Baltimore Ravens (No. 14) or Tampa Bay Buccaneers (No. 15) before the Jets come on the clock, so New York would be motivated to leapfrog those teams and get their guy.
For a mere three-spot jump, the price wouldn’t be exorbitant. Based on the traditional trade value chart, the Jets can make the move with a package equivalent in value to the 88th overall pick (mid-third round).
While the Rams own the 13th overall pick via the Atlanta Falcons, their overall draft pick haul is weak. The cumulative value of their seven draft picks ranks just 25th in the NFL, largely because they have no picks from slots 94-206 (fourth round through late-sixth round).
This makes Los Angeles a team that could be enticed to trade down and recoup some mid-round picks. A three-slot drop into the Jets’ 16th spot would allow them to balance out their overall draft class while still picking a player in the top half of the first round who could immediately help them push for a Super Bowl.
Meanwhile, the Jets get aggressive in pursuit of ending their offensive futility, rather than leaving their destiny in the hands of fate.
San Francisco 49ers
The Ty Simpson debate continues to loom in Jetsland. Will the Jets take him? If so, when? At No. 16? In the second round?
Perhaps the answer lies in the middle.
The 16th overall pick seems rich for a developmental quarterback like Simpson, given that the Jets desperately need to use their two top-16 picks on two immediate starters. But if the Jets like Simpson, they may feel compelled to make a move for him instead of praying that he slips past the next 16 teams before they come back on the clock at No. 33.
The Jets probably won’t be moving up from No. 33 into the late teens or the early twenties, as that would cost them the equivalent of a late-second or early-third round pick. But if Simpson keeps tumbling on Day 1, could the San Francisco 49ers’ 27th overall pick be the sweet spot?
By jumping up from No. 33 to No. 27, the Jets could ensure they stay ahead of other quarterback-needy teams who might also be thinking about trading up for a slipping Simpson, namely the Arizona Cardinals, who sit one spot behind the Jets at No. 34. Arizona is widely expected to attempt a trade-up for Simpson.
According to the traditional draft trade chart, a move from No. 33 to No. 27 would cost New York the equivalent of the 100th overall pick. The Jets have the 103rd pick, so they could send over that selection along with a sweetener to make the deal work.
Moving up to grab Simpson on Day 1 is also appealing because it would allow the Jets to add the fifth-year option to his contract, which only applies for first-round picks.
As for San Francisco, there is reason to believe they would be open to the deal.
Possessing the NFL’s 23rd-ranked haul of picks based on cumulative value, the 49ers are a solid trade-down candidate. They only have six total picks, including none in the third, fifth, sixth, or seventh rounds, so they could be enticed to accept a package that gives them more shots at the dartboard.
Minnesota Vikings
A trade-down from No. 16 is rarely considered by fans and analysts, given that the Jets are already chock-full of assets. However, if the right deal comes along, the Jets could still look to stockpile even more picks.
One enticing concept could involve a small swap with the Minnesota Vikings, who own the No. 18 pick.
Situated at No. 17 are the Detroit Lions, Minnesota’s hated division rival. Based on the current consensus mock draft, Detroit is expected to select Georgia offensive tackle Monroe Freeling, which would fill the hole at left tackle left by Taylor Decker’s retirement.
Detroit’s once-proud offensive line fell to mediocrity in 2025, as the Lions finished just 23rd in Pro Football Focus’ pass-blocking grade. It was a big reason why Detroit declined from 15 wins to 9. Offensive line play is a core element of the Lions’ identity, so it stands to reason they will do whatever it takes to push their front five back to the top of the NFL.
What if the Vikings decide to get in the way of that?
Jets fans are well aware that teams like to spite their division rivals on draft weekend. Back in 2023, the Patriots accepted a trade-down with the Pittsburgh Steelers—which was decidedly in Pittsburgh’s favor based on the value chart—just to make sure Pittsburgh could select Georgia offensive tackle Broderick Jones ahead of the Jets.
Trading up two spots to take Freeling ahead of Detroit could be a brilliant move on Minnesota’s part, as it could potentially force their rival to move forward without a solution at one of the game’s most important positions. Not only that, but it would solve an underrated need for the Vikings, too.
On paper, the Vikings are set with one of the league’s best tackle duos in Christian Darrisaw and Brian O’Neill, but Minnesota has to start thinking about the future. Darrisaw has only played in half of the Vikings’ games over the last two years, so Minnesota must prioritize having a quality blind-side backup. On the right side, O’Neill is set for free agency in 2027.
By trading down from No. 16 to No. 18, the Jets would be owed the equivalent of the 100th overall pick (last choice of the third round). Minnesota owns the 97th overall pick, which would be perfect to complete the deal. The trading-down team usually nets more value in draft-day deals, so it would make sense for Minnesota to give up a pick that is three slots better than the equivalent of an even value.
That would get the Jets back into the third round, where they currently have no selections. And since they would only drop two slots in the first round, with one of those picks being used on a player the Jets are uninterested in (they are not selecting an OT in the first round), it is almost like collecting a free pick.
