On the first day of June, the AFC was rocked by a pair of blockbuster trades, one sending a superstar out of the conference, and another bringing a new superstar in.

The Cleveland Browns dealt Myles Garrett to the Los Angeles Rams for Jared Verse, a 2027 first-round pick, a 2028 second-round pick, and a 2029 third-round pick. Meanwhile, the New England Patriots acquired A.J. Brown from the Philadelphia Eagles for a 2028 first-round pick and a 2027 fifth-round pick.

Here’s what it all means for the New York Jets.

1. The Sauce Gardner and Quinnen Williams trades continue to age well

After the Jets landed an entire farm for just two players at the 2025 trade deadline, nearly every superstar trade will be compared to those deals moving forward.

Once again, the Jets come out looking like bandits in comparison to other star trades around the league.

A.J. Brown is a three-time All-Pro, equal to the total All-Pro appearances of Sauce Gardner (2) and Quinnen Williams (1) combined. Yet, he landed a smaller package than both Gardner and Williams. Gardner commanded two first-rounders, while Williams pulled in a first-rounder and a second-rounder. Brown only picked up a first and a fifth.

2. Winning the AFC East just got even tougher

The Jets are longshots to win the AFC East, but you never know what might happen. In this case, there is a legitimate reason to believe that the reigning champions may crack the door open for a new first-place squad.

New York’s dark-horse hopes of winning the division hinge on New England being a regression candidate after stomping a historically easy schedule in 2025. However, the chances of that regression have dwindled after Monday’s news.

The Patriots were projected to have Romeo Doubs as their WR1. Now, they are bringing in a physically dominant three-time All-Pro in Brown, who has already proven that he can be the top receiver on a championship team.

New England’s floor just got much higher, potentially squashing any pipe dreams of the Jets stealing the division, especially with the Buffalo Bills still lingering.

3. The Jets have a new competitior in the 2027 QB push

Just like the Jets, the Cleveland Browns are still in the midst of their decades-long hunt for a franchise quarterback. He probably isn’t on their current roster, barring a surprising breakout from Shedeur Sanders, Dillon Gabriel, or Taylen Green.

The Jets, too, likely do not have a franchise quarterback on their current roster, barring Cade Klubnik becoming a fourth-round steal (which Geno Smith is confident will happen).

Thus, both teams are expected to pursue a quarterback in the first round of the 2027 NFL draft. The Jets are well-equipped to maneuver the board how they please, possessing three first-round picks. However, they now have some serious competition in the Browns. The Myles Garrett package will leave them in a fantastic position to trade up for a quarterback if they feel the need.

If the Jets and Browns struggle as much as many people expect in 2026, but neither manages to land the first overall pick, there could be a serious bidding war between the two teams on draft night.

Still, with three first-rounders in the immediate draft to Cleveland’s two (with the Rams’ first-rounder likely being very low), the Jets retain the upper hand.

For now, though, the Jets are focused on surpassing those expectations and proving doubters wrong. After all, with three first-rounders, they don’t need to finish with a high draft pick to land a franchise quarterback. They can move up to select a first-round-worthy prospect in what is expected to be a deep quarterback class.

The Browns, though, will be ready to drive the trade market up.