Jaylen Waddle trade could allow Jets to nab Frank Reich's ideal WR

Darren Mougey and the New York Jets have had a very active start to the 2026 offseason as the team has filled various holes on the roster. These moves come after a miserable 2025 campaign, which saw just three wins on the season.

The plan so far this offseason has been clear: rebuild the defense through free agency and the trade market. New York has added key pieces like Demario Davis, Joseph Ossai, and Nahshon Wright. They also traded for All-Pro safety Minkah Fitzpatrick.

Offensively, though, outside of trading for Geno Smith and adding Dylan Parham, the Jets have yet to address the receiver position. Despite the free agent market for receivers dwindling, the Jets still have a clear avenue to add at the position.

After acquiring Jaylen Waddle in a trade with the Miami Dolphins, the Denver Broncos have put themselves in a position where they could sell off one of their depth receivers. One of the options that could be available via trade is Troy Franklin.

Jets could add much needed wide receiver help by trading for Troy Franklin

One thing that has become abundantly clear throughout Darren Mougey's first year and a half in the general manager chair for the Jets is his willingness to make trades to improve the roster. Adding Troy Franklin would be no different.

After spending all three of his college seasons at Oregon, Franklin was selected in the fourth round of the 2024 NFL Draft by the Broncos. In his rookie season, Franklin was a rotational piece at the receiver position before he took a sizeable jump in year two.

In 2025, Franklin played in all 17 games, hauling in 65 receptions for 709 yards and six touchdowns. All of those ranked second on the Broncos, only behind Courtland Sutton.

One of the biggest areas of Franklin's game that sticks out, though, is his size and ability to bring in contested catches. Standing at 6-foot-3, 180 pounds, Franklin finished the 2025 campaign with an impressive 52.9% contested catch rate.

That was good enough for a 36.2% increase from his rookie year. When looking at the Jets' offense under Frank Reich, the Oregon product could step in as a perfect fit.

Throughout Reich's coaching career, he has a history of working with taller receivers who are good at bringing in contested catches. A few receivers that were able to fit this billing under Reich were Michael Pittman Jr., Alec Pierce, Alshon Jeffery, and others.

Entering his third NFL season at just 23 years old, Franklin would also fit into the type of player that Mougey likes to trade for. The second-year general manager likes to trade for young players on cheap contracts with years of control.

Mougey also has a strong connection with Denver, as he was a part of the front office that actually drafted Franklin prior to taking over the reins in Florham Park.

There's no denying the clear need that the Jets still have at wide receiver outside of Garrett Wilson and Adonai Mitchell. While Franklin wouldn't solve it all at the position, it would be a very good start heading into the 2026 NFL Draft.