The New York Jets have a chance to add some firepower.
In Lance Zierlein’s latest mock draft for the NFL Media Group, he projected a trade. He had the Jets moving up from the No. 16 overall pick in the first round, with the Kansas City Chiefs, who hold the No. 9 overall pick.
That jump in round one was so the Jets could select Ohio State safety Caleb Downs.
“New York dips into its deep draft capital to leap up the board for an enticing prospect. Aaron Glenn saw what a difference Brian Branch made in Detroit, so the second-year head coach pounces on this fiery safety to help change the culture of his defense.,” Zierlein wrote.
The article didn’t provide details on the trade. However, according to the NFL draft value chart, the Chiefs’ No. 9 overall pick is worth 1,350 points. The Jets’ No. 16 overall pick is worth 1,000 points. So the Jets have a 350-point gap they have to fill.
A potential trade that would be close to equal in value would have the Jets giving up the No. 44 overall pick in the second round to KC. In exchange, the Chiefs could flip back No. 109 overall in the fourth round.
The full details of the trade: Jets send No. 16 and No. 44 overall for the No. 9 and No. 109 overall picks. According to the NFL draft value chart, the Chiefs would slightly win the trade (1,460 points of value vs. 1,426 points of value).
Typically, when teams are trading up, they have to give up more than they’re receiving.
Aggressive Mentality Is the Way to Go
I had PFF’s Lead NFL Draft Analyst, Trevor Sikkema, on “Boy Green Daily” this week.
The Jets, coming off a 3-14 season, naturally have a lot of needs. I asked him if he was running the ship, which he would choose to do: stick and pick four starters with four picks inside the top 44, or would he try to manipulate the board and try to trade up to get multiple quality players.
“I definitely get aggressive because you mentioned having four picks inside the top-44, but they have 11 overall picks in this draft. I know they don’t have a third-rounder, but they have plenty of picks all throughout day three as well. If the bidding war isn’t too hot with other teams, if they aren’t looking to move up, and you can kind of call your shot,” Sikkema told me on the podcast.
One of the teams, he said, the Jets should target if they want to be ultra-aggressive, is the Washington Commanders. They hold the No. 7 overall pick in the first round.
The Commanders only have two selections inside the top 144 picks in the 2026 NFL draft.
“So Washington has to get more picks in this draft. They had the oldest roster in the NFL last season. They have got to get younger. [The Commanders] have to get more darts to throw at the dart board when you’re playing the draft game. Washington is the team that you can get aggressive for,” Sikkema explained on the podcast.
“So anytime you have 11 picks in a draft, I think the auto-pilot is to be aggressive until a team tells you no,” he added.
In This Scenario the Jets Played That Fantasy Out
Zierlein had the Jets selecting Texas Tech pass rusher David Bailey with the No. 2 overall pick in the first round.
“In my first mock of this draft cycle, I had the Jets taking Arvell Reese. This time around, New York grabs a more game-ready pass rusher who can pile up pressures and sacks,” he explained.
Then, when a surprising player started slipping down the board, Caleb Downs, he pounced with a trade-up. The Jets have the power at any moment to do a move like this. That is one of the perks of making blockbuster trades and having tons of draft ammunition.
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