The New York Jets have an opportunity to enhance the value of their draft selections.
ESPN’s Bill Barnwell suggested an intriguing draft-day trade:
- Jets receive: A 2025 first-round pick (No. 10 overall) and a 2025 third-round pick (No. 72 overall).
- Bears receive: A 2025 first-round pick (No. 7 overall) and a 2025 fifth-round pick (No. 162 overall).
With multiple high draft picks, Bears GM Ryan Poles has plenty of flexibility to maneuver. Chicago has prioritized improving both sides of the line this offseason, adding several offensive (Joe Thuney, Drew Dalman, Jonah Jackson) and defensive linemen (Dayo Odeyingbo, Grady Jarrett). While some of these contracts may have been generous, the approach targets key areas of need.
Jets Prioritize Quality Over Quantity
While this trade wouldn’t increase the Jets’ number of picks, it would improve their draft positioning. By moving down just three spots in the first round, the Jets would gain significant value by leaping 90 spots in the middle rounds.
Based on the NFL draft value chart, the Jets’ No. 7 overall pick is worth 1,500 points, while the Bears’ No. 10 overall pick holds a value of 1,300 points. To compensate for the 200-point gap, Chicago’s third-round pick (No. 72) adds 230 points, while the Jets’ fifth-rounder (No. 162) is worth just 26.6 points. This makes the trade a near-even exchange.
If the deal goes through, the Jets would secure four picks inside the top 73.
Would the Jets Pass on a Key Target?
Barnwell suggests that Chicago’s motivation to trade up could be to select Penn State tight end Tyler Warren.
“With Carolina in need of receivers, the Bears may look to jump ahead and secure Warren. New head coach Ben Johnson’s Lions frequently used two-tight-end sets, making this move a logical fit,” Barnwell noted.
However, draft analyst Drew Beatty argued that Warren might not be worth a top-10 selection. He believes the Jets could still find a quality tight end in later rounds and suggests that only an elite prospect like Brock Bowers should be taken that high.
If the Jets agree with this assessment, trading down and gaining additional draft capital could be a smart move.