The New York Jets could crash the party.
Insider Johnny Venerable revealed that the Arizona Cardinals have “already engaged in early trade discussions” with the Kansas City Chiefs for a potential blockbuster trade on Thursday, April 23.
The Cardinals hold the No. 3 overall pick and the Chiefs hold the No. 9 overall pick in the first round. In this potential scenario, the Chiefs would move up in the first round with an aggressive mindset to acquire their top target.
According to Venerable, the Chiefs would “likely target the top available pass rusher in either Texas Tech’s David Bailey or Ohio State’s Arvell Reese.”
If Kansas City is interested in moving up for a pass rusher, the Jets could cut the Cardinals off and get involved in this trade instead. The Jets hold the No. 2 overall pick, one spot ahead of the Cardinals.
Arizona can only promise one of those two players will be available. If KC is willing to pay the iron price, they can cut the line and pick between Bailey and Reese instead of being stuck with the leftovers.
Talking out a Potential Jets-Chiefs Trade
The Jets’ No. 2 overall pick is worth 2,600 points, according to the NFL draft value chart.
If the Chiefs packaged both of their first-rounders (No. 9 and No. 29 overall) and their second rounder (No. 40 overall), that would equal 2,490 points.
Technically speaking, the Chiefs would be getting a discount. That 110-point difference in value is equivalent to a late third-round pick.
This potential deal would allow the Jets to have five picks inside the top-44:
- No. 2 overall, No. 16 overall, and No. 29 overall (first round)
- No. 33 overall, No. 40 overall, and No. 44 overall (second round)
The good news is you get more swings at the piñata with quality picks. However, the bad news is that you take yourself out of the true blue chippers in this class. You’re getting a very different pocket of players at No. 9 versus at the No. 2 overall spot.
Some Busy Trade Activity on the Way?
How active will the trade market be during the first round of the 2026 NFL draft? There are mixed opinions on this subject matter.
“Chiefs general manager Brett Veach is predicting an active Thursday with plenty of trades. Others are not so sure,” ESPN NFL Insider Adam Schefter wrote.
“More teams want to trade down than up this year, per multiple sources. This means there could be fewer first-round deals than in recent years, as it takes two to make a deal come together. There were five draft-day trades in Round 1 last year, five in 2024, seven in 2023, and nine in 2022. Teams expect the trades we do see to be more jockeying for position than earthshaking blockbusters, such as the deal we saw last year between the Browns and Jaguars, when Cleveland moved out of the No. 2 pick in a stunning trade with the Jaguars,” Schefter added.
The Jets can move up and down the board during the draft. That is one of the perks of having four picks inside the top-44. Wherever the draft starts to shift, the Jets are in a position to move with it.
General manager Darren Mougey has developed a reputation as a mover and a shaker.
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