EAST RUTHERFORD, NEW JERSEY – AUGUST 10: Olu Fashanu #74 of the New York Jets blocks Frankie Luvu #4 of the Washington Commanders in the first half of the preseason game against at MetLife Stadium on August 10, 2024 in East Rutherford, New Jersey. The Jets defeated the Commanders 20-17. (Photo by Mitchell Leff/Getty Images)
The New York Jets have the ammo to pull off a splash.
Rich Eisen hosted SportsCenter on Monday, April 13. During that broadcast, NFL Network’s Daniel Jeremiah joined the show to reveal his top-10 mock draft. He predicted a huge trade.
New York Jets receive: a 2026 first-round pick (No. 7 overall)
Washington Commanders receive: a 2026 first-round pick (No. 16 overall), a 2026 second-round pick (No. 44 overall), and a 2026 fourth-round pick (No. 103 overall)
“Yeah, this is about an opportunity here for the New York Jets to move up and be aggressive in this draft. They’re loaded with picks this year and next year. When you look at the cost for them to go from 16 to 7, you’re talking about their second second-round pick, a fourth-round pick, and their 16th overall pick. So it’s not that big of an ask,” Jeremiah explained.
“A Washington team that needs more picks. They’re a little light; they don’t have a second-round pick. So they slide back, the Jets come back up, they’ve already got David Bailey [mock prediction at No. 2 overall], and now they add Carnell Tate to team up with a fellow Ohio State Buckeye in Garrett Wilson. They have the ability, they have the capacity to be aggressive in this draft, and come away with two of the top players, and they’re another team that is looking specifically at that wide receiver spot,” Jeremiah added.
OH MY GOODNESS!
I woke up to this freaking gem: @MoveTheSticks revealed his top-10 mock draft to @richeisen.
He predicted the #Jets would trade (No. 16, No. 44, & No. 103 overall) to the #Commanders for No. 7 overall so they could land Ohio State WR Carnell Tate!!!
🎥
Trade Breakdown
If the Jets are going to trade back into the top 10, circle the Commanders in permanent marker.
It takes two to tango on a trade. The Jets and Commanders are perfect dance partners. Gang Green has four picks inside the top-44. Washington has just two picks inside the top-146 of this draft class.
The Jets are motivated to trade up, and the Commanders are motivated to trade down.
Washington’s No. 7 overall pick is worth 1,500 points on the NFL draft value chart. The Jets’ combo of picks is worth 1,548 points. That would be a slight overpay by the Jets. The 48-point difference is the equivalent of a late fourth-round pick.
Pros and Cons of Jets Strategy
There are two lines of thinking here. The Jets could opt to stick and pick. With four picks inside the top-44, the Jets should be able to walk away with four starting players.
The Jets were 3-14 last season, so we aren’t going out on a limb to say four starting jobs are certainly open.
However, the other line of thinking is adding difference makers to this team. Starters are all well and good, but if they can’t make plays, then you may be stuck in the basement.
If you love a player, go out and get them. The Jets have the opportunity to select the top non-quarterback on the board with the No. 2 overall selection. Then, instead of waiting until pick No. 16, the Jets can jump up the board to secure another standout player.
They have needs at off-ball-linebacker, wide receiver, quarterback, pass rusher, safety, and cornerback.
This Jeremiah splash would add another dynamic pass catcher for whoever is throwing around the football for the Jets in 2026 and beyond.
Paul Esden Jr. covers the New York Jets for Heavy.com. A New York native, he co-hosts a morning show, “The Manchild Show with Boy Green Digital.” Before joining Heavy in 2021, Esden Jr. covered both national and New York sports for FanSided, Elite Sports NY, and The Score 1260. More about Paul Esden Jr.
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