ESPN Jets trade idea may be a little too risky for Darren Mougey

The final week ahead of the NFL Draft is always an excellent time for bizarre trade proposals.

Unsurprisingly, the hot take network known as ESPN is reminding us that such a trend still exists.

NFL Draft analyst Daniel Jeremiah suggested on Sunday that the New York Jets trade the No. 16 and No. 33 picks, along with a fourth-rounder, to the Washington Commanders so they can select Ohio State receiver Carnell Tate.

When speaking with Rich Eisen on Monday, Matt Miller made it clear that he agreed with his colleague and called the proposed move “smart.”

“Teams definitely see a wide gap between Carnell Tate and that next group of receivers,” Miller said.

Miller added that he believes the New Orleans Saints (No. 8) and Kansas City Chiefs (No. 9) could both target a receiver in the first round.

Tate and USC’s Makai Lemon are widely considered the draft’s top receiver prospects.

Trading up for Carnell Tate would be yet another Jets mistake

Before we go any further, we need to reiterate that neither Miller nor Jeremiah suggested the Jets use the No. 2 pick on Tate.

Such a distinction is extremely important. Let’s assume, for the sake of conversation, that the Jets take Arvell Reese or David Bailey at No. 2.

At least on paper, that would be the safer play. Typically, an intelligent team uses a top-5 pick on a receiver for one of two reasons.

1. The receiver is a generational talent, such as Calvin Johnson (No. 2 in 2007), who they believe can truly accelerate a rebuild.
2. The team already has who they think is a franchise quarterback.

Tate seemingly does not check the first box, and the Jets obviously aren’t in the second situation.

Miller previously reported that the Jets would have considered Tate if they had a more stable quarterback situation.

The key term is that a team believes they have a franchise quarterback already on the roster.

Look no further than Andre Johnson (No. 3 in 2003) and Ja’Marr Chase (No. 5 in 2021). Houston was an expansion team entering its second year with David Carr.

The Bengals, meanwhile, reunited Chase with 2019 Heisman Trophy winner and former LSU teammate Joe Burrow.

Those decisions made sense. We can’t say the same about the Jets potentially trading three draft picks for Tate.

Matt Miller is making too many assumptions about the 2026 NFL Draft

When defending the idea of taking Tate at No. 7, Miller predicted that most receivers would be off the board by No. 33.

The problem, though, is that the Jets would likely have multiple receiver options available at No. 16.

To be clear, this isn’t a debate of determining whether Tate, Lemon, or Arizona State’s Jordyn Tyson will be the most successful receiver.

There are simply too many teams in the top 15 with needs greater than receiver. Tyson’s injury history could drop him out of the top 20 entirely.

For the Jets to trade No. 16 and No. 33 just to take a receiver in the top 10, then, is absurd.

If the Jets truly want a first-round receiver, then either hold off until No. 16 or try moving up outside of the top 10. Simple.

None of this is to say that Tate won’t be a productive NFL receiver. He simply doesn’t fit the Jets’ needs in the top 10.

But, hey, the draft is only nine days away. What better time to overthink things and try to farm reactions?

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