New York Jets: 5 dream blockbuster trades the team should consider

The New York Jets are gearing up to make a run in 2019. To reach their goals they need one more big piece, here are 5 blockbuster trades to consider.

Despite being slept on by the majority of the NFL and its fanbase, the New York Jets have quietly built one of the best rosters in the AFC.

In just one drive for the starters in the preseason opener, the Jets showed how dangerous they could be.

They added the likes of Le’Veon Bell, CJ Mosley, Quinnen Williams, Jamison Crowder, and Kelechi Osemele. There are still a few major holes on this team but with the potential to win now and take over the New England Patriots in the AFC East, the time is now for the green and white.

If the Jets are going to get bold and make a blockbuster deal it’s going to cost them premium picks. First-round picks are like gold in the NFL today, so any trade involving future premium picks shouldn’t be taken lightly.

Although the opportunity to bolster the offensive line, secondary or even get Sam Darnold another weapon may be too much to pass up on this offseason. The Jets have potential talent in all of these positions, but sports are all about the stars, and if general manager Joe Douglas can somehow turn future first-round picks into a game-changing talent, it could put the team over the top.

The Jets may be in a tough position going forward, as they’ve re-tooled this team in order to both build for the future and put together a winning product, but given the leap we are set to see from Sam Darnold, we believe this is the best move for the franchise and its loyal fans.

While there is potential for none of these trades to happen, Joe Douglas has been very pro-active early in his stint with the New York Jets, and if he could pull just one of these off, the Jets may be the talk of New York for the first time since the in eight years.

Next: Acquiring a defensive star

5. LB Von Miller

The Jets defense has been its strength for a number of years now, and while the offense has seemingly become a threat to any team in the NFL, it’s the defense led by Jamal Adams and CJ Mosley that will turn the team into a genuine contender.

To take the pressure off Leonard Williams, the Jets drafted Alabama’s Quinnen Williams and Florida’s Jachai Polite, and while both men are impressing, an impact addition to the team could completely overwhelm an opposing offense.

The organization tried to acquire Khalil Mack a year ago, but that didn’t come to fruition, so this year, they should go after another defensive game-breaker, the Denver Broncos Von Miller.

The Broncos have just paired Miller with first-round stud Bradley Chubb, but in the incredibly competitive and challenging AFC West, they just don’t stand a chance of competing, and if the Jets can offer just the right package, it may be too much for John Elway to pass up.

Over his career, Von has recorded 98 sacks and forced 25 fumbles, and this would be yet another way to take the pressure off Sam Darnold and this offense, and with Super Bowl-winning experience, Von Miller would be almost the perfect acquisition for Gang Green.

Pairing Miller with the two Williams studs upfront and the leadership of Mosley and Adams would make this the most imposing Jets defense since Darrelle Revis led the team to back-to-back AFC Championship games.

Miller was reportedly on the Jets radar a year ago, and with the additions we’ve already mentioned, he may not be one of the biggest needs, but if the Jets are to succeed in 2019, they need to go through the likes of Baker Mayfield, Patrick Mahomes, Philip Rivers, Tom Brady, and Ben Roethlisberger, so adding another star to this defense would invigorate and inspire everyone.

Next: Adding an All-Pro WR

4. WR A.J Green

AJ Green has been one of the best and most consistent wide receivers in the NFL for a number of years now but has always been overshadowed by the stars of the league. Along with playing in a smaller market, being paired with a mediocre QB like Andy Dalton doesn’t help Green’s cause at all, but if the Jets were to acquire the former first-rounder, it could really help Sam Darnold become the star QB that many in the organization are expecting him to become.

The team is already set at WR with the likes of Robby Anderson, Quincy Enunwa and Jamison Crowder leading the way, but the glaring depth issue was exposed Week 1 of the preseason against the New York Giants.

Going out and finding a decent No. 2 or No. 3 receiver could also do the trick, but with the Cincinnati Bengals staring down last place in the AFC North, it’s time for them to get some assets back for their stars, and Green should be the first to be shopped.

Throughout his 8-year career in the NFL, AJ Green has been fantastic with little help around him, and a move would help everyone involved going forward, as it gives Green a genuine chance at making a playoff run. In four playoff appearances, the Bengals came up short four times with Green on the roster, and while the Jets will be contending for a Wild Card this year, a star the magnitude of A.J Green could give them a chance at the AFC East title.

This trade is a realistic possibility given how much of an impact Green would make on the Jets and the current standing of the Bengals in an incredibly tough AFC North division, and while it would be very risky to give up a first-round talent to acquire an aging WR, it would take the offense over the top, and would be a great move.

The one caveat to mention AJ Green had ankle surgery this offseason which could put his playing status into question to start the season.

Next: An underrated CB target

3. CB Darius Slay

While the Jets have added plenty of talent in the offseason, their biggest weakness remains at the cornerback position, as the depth was thoroughly exploited by the Giants in Week 1 of the 2019 preseason.

In fact, with just weeks to go before the beginning of the NFL season, the Jets still don’t have a cornerback to pair with former Pro Bowl corner Trumaine Johnson, and with so much talent out there, the team desperately needs to make a trade for a top corner.

Especially considering Trumaine’s status for Week 1 is very much in the air after another injury.

While Patrick Peterson or Jalen Ramsey would be the perfect targets for Joe Douglas and the Jets front office, the Arizona Cardinals and Jacksonville Jaguars would likely demand way too much, so instead the Jets should look to Detroit for the 6-year pro, Darius Slay.

In those six years, Slay has played 89 games and registered 17 interceptions, 91 passes defended and 260 tackles. While Slay isn’t the biggest name, a trade for Slay would allow Brian Poole and Darryl Roberts to move into the slot and be more effective players.

Heading into the offseason, CB was one of the two biggest needs for the Jets. The other was the offensive line. New York addressed that through the draft (Chuma Edoga), trade (Kelechi Osemele), and free agency (Ryan Kalil).

To be candid, the team didn’t do their due diligence at the corner spot.

Sure, they added Brian Poole, but he was an unproven starter in his time with Atlanta, but that wasn’t nearly enough to shore up the position.

Given the state of the Detroit Lions and their likely fate in 2019 being sealed (last place in the NFC North), this could be a plausible trade for both sides.

Next: A chance to solidify the OL

2. OT Trent Williams

Given Joe Douglas’ history as an offensive lineman, it’s no secret that he’s going to help the Jets build from within the trenches, and after convincing Ryan Kalil to come out of retirement, he could pull off a big trade to further solidify the O-Line.

While there are so many options out there, the best one to go with is Washington’s Trent Williams, who is having his own issues with the Redskins, making it the perfect time for the Jets to step up and facilitate a trade that both sides are clearly looking for.

Since being drafted back in 2010 (fourth overall to the Redskins), Williams has played in 90 games, and over the past few years, he has blossomed into one of, if not the best-left tackle in all of football, and this trade would be a big power move for the New York Jets.

With Kalil, Osemele, Brian Winters and Brandon Shell making up the rest of the offensive line, this would immediately become one of the better groups in the AFC, and with Le’Veon Bell and Sam Darnold running the offense, the simple trade for Trent Williams would change the entire complexion of the AFC East in 2019.

Given all the issues that Williams is currently having with the Redskins, he’ll no doubt be a very in-demand player over the next few weeks, and with depth issues on the Jets offensive line, Williams would help in more ways than one. The team drafted Chuma Edoga in the third round in 2019, and not only would trading for Williams make the team better, but he could also work as a veteran presence alongside the rest of the group for the young, promising Edoga.

We’ve seen Joe Douglas already make some great, under the radar moves for the Jets already, but given this teams potential, it’s time for him to make a splash, and trading for Trent Williams will really help the team, and maybe a bit more affordable than you’d expect.

Next: Adding one of the best WRs in league

1. WR Mike Evans

Ever since the days of Curtis Martin, the Jets have lacked a true offensive superstar, and they’ve now got one in Le’Veon Bell, so pairing him with a star wideout would truly make this team something special.

Sam Darnold already has Bell, Robby Anderson, Quincy Enunwa, Chris Herndon, Jamison Crowder, and Ty Montgomery to work with, but if the team could somehow acquire Mike Evans from Tampa Bay, this would become one of the most must-see teams in the NFL.

Evans has been a star since the day he stepped into the NFL, and since 2014, he’s caught 40 Touchdown passes and over 6,000 yards, making him one of the NFL’s truly elite WRs.

However, playing in a system like Tampa Bay has hurt his reputation among the league, as he is often forgotten when talks of the best WR in the NFL come up, so a move to the big market would make sense for both sides.

Pairing Evans with the talented group mentioned above would be great for Evans, who has had to shoulder the receiving load in Tampa since he debuted in 2014, and would add another element to the Jets offense.

Right now, Anderson acts as the deep threat, while Enunwa is the physicality and Crowder plays in the slot, so Evans who is a big body in the red-zone and a permanent big-play threat would take this unit to another level entirely. Evans just signed a 5-year extension with the Buccaneers, but given how little chance they have to compete, the Jets should give Tampa everything they want for him, as he could truly be a franchise-changing star.

This is probably the most unlikely on the list, but the Jets need to make big moves right now if they want to truly become Super Bowl contenders with Sam Darnold, and it may just be crazy enough to work.