NY Jets: 3 players to trade up for in the 2021 NFL Draft

Justin Fried

NY Jets Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports

The NY Jets seem locked into BYU quarterback Zach Wilson with the No. 2 overall selection. But plans appear to be a little bit murkier for their second first-round pick.

Mock drafts have the Jets selecting over a dozen different players at that spot with analysts predicting the team will address a variety of different positions.

Some have the Jets staying put and addressing one of their biggest needs such as offensive line or cornerback. Others have them going for a standout defensive player such as an edge rusher or a linebacker.

A few mocks even have the Jets adding another skill player on offense in the form of a wide receiver or running back. But what if the Jets don’t stay put at 23?

What if the Jets decide to trade up? Who might they target?

General manager Joe Douglas has left open the possibility that the Jets could move up from 23 if a certain player they want is still on the board. How far they might move up depends on which players are still available.

Either way, it’s certainly an option they could consider.

The Jets have an abundance of draft capital meaning that they could afford to pay the price to move up a few picks if the value is there. After all, they need both day-one starters and long-term building blocks.

Which players could the Jets target in a trade-up? We take a look at a few possible options.

Next: 3. Jaycee Horn/Patrick Surtain

3. The NY Jets could trade up for Jaycee Horn or Patrick Surtain

This is probably more a pipedream than an actual reality, but it’s a scenario worth considering. The 2021 NFL Draft class is loaded with offensive talent including five quarterbacks that could be selected within the top-10 picks.

Throw in the likes of Kyle Pitts, Penei Sewell, Ja’Marr Chase, Devonta Smith, and Jaylen Waddle and you have a draft class that’s stacked with offensive talent at the top of the board.

As such, we could see some of the premier defensive players in this class fall further than they probably should. Perhaps that’s the case with one of the top two cornerbacks in this class.

Both Alabama’s Patrick Surtain II and South Carolina’s Jaycee Horn seem to be neck-and-neck in the battle to see who will be the first cornerback drafted. There’s a chance one (or even both) are selected within the top-10.

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But what if one of them slips? It’s certainly a possibility.

Unlikely events happen each and every draft and there are always players who fall further than expected. If Surtain or Horn experience a bit of a draft-day slide, the Jets might want to get aggressive and trade up to secure their guy.

Say, for example, Surtain or Horn is still on the board at 14 or 15. Do the Jets consider moving up from 23 to select a top-tier cornerback prospect? It would definitely be something they’d consider.

A run on offensive players early is very possible meaning that the Jets could serve to benefit from one of these two prospects falling. If it happens, keep an eye on the Jets as a candidate to move up.

Next: 2. Alijah Vera-Tucker

NY Jets (Photo by Meg Oliphant/Getty Images)

2. The NY Jets could trade up for Alijah Vera-Tucker

This would probably be a dream scenario for the Jets. USC’s Alijah Vera-Tucker is widely considered to be the best interior offensive line prospect in this year’s class.

A two-year starter in college, Vera-Tucker has experience at both guard and tackle, but most scouts see him as a better fit at guard in the NFL. Projections seem to be all over the place for him right now, but most expect him to be selected within the top-20 picks.

Some even have Vera-Tucker as a possible top-10 selection. In all likelihood, we’ll see him come off the board within that 12-18 range which likely means he’ll be gone by the time the Jets pick again at 23.

That is, of course, if they don’t decide to move up.

A variety of teams picking in the late teens and early 20s could use offensive line help including the Washington Football Team, Chicago Bears, and Tennessee Titans. That leaves little-to-no chance that Vera-Tucker falls all the way to 23.

But if the former USC star is still on the board at, say, 16 or 17, do the Jets consider a trade-up? One would think so.

The Jets swung and missed on Joe Thuney in free agency and the options were rather thin after that leaving them with the same five starting offensive linemen that they boasted a year ago.

Expect that to change in the draft, and Vera-Tucker would be a fantastic way to upgrade.

The 21-year-old could slide in as a day-one starter replacing either Alex Lewis or Greg Van Roten at guard (Lewis makes the most sense) giving the Jets a pair of young stalwart offensive linemen to build around.

If Vera-Tucker falls, the Jets might pounce.

Next: 1. Teven Jenkins

NY Jets (Photo by Brian Bahr/Getty Images)

1. The NY Jets could trade up for Teven Jenkins

The Jets’ interest in Teven Jenkins has been well-documented by this point. Joe Douglas and company seem to have the former Oklahoma State star in their crosshairs as perhaps their preferred target with their second first-round pick.

Not too long ago, it seemed very possible that Jenkins would still be on the board at 23. But now, that seems more like wishful thinking.

Jenkins is an interesting evaluation in that some will see him as a tackle at the next level while others might view him as a guard-exclusive prospect. Either way, he’s someone the Jets should target.

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With 35 career starts under his belt, Jenkins is one of the more experienced offensive linemen in this class. His raw power and lateral mobility give him sky-high potential while his sturdy frame and intangibles give him a rather high floor as well.

It’s no surprise to hear that the Jets are interested. But how high might they need to trade up to grab him?

Jenkins is currently projected to come off the board somewhere in that 16-23 range putting the Jets right on the border of where he could be drafted. Essentially, don’t expect him to make it past 23.

The Jets might need to leapfrog a few teams, namely the Bears and Titans, if they want to land Jenkins. But it might just be worth it to select one of the best offensive linemen in this class.

If the Jets are going to trade up for any player this Thursday, your money should be on Teven Jenkins.

Justin Fried

Justin Fried is an editor for FanSided who has over seven years of experience covering the NFL and various other sports. A diehard Jets fan since birth, Justin has served as the editor for The Jet Press since 2019, interviewing athletes such as Sauce Gardner, Curtis Martin, LaDainian Tomlinson, Joe Klecko, and many others. Justin has also worked closely with brands like Red Bull to help highlight the niche sectors of the sporting world. His four-part series on the sport of breaking remains one of his proudest pieces of work. In his spare time, Justin is an avid pro wrestling fan who is fortunate enough to have traveled to nearly 30 different countries.