NY Jets: 5 tight ends to target at the trade deadline

The NY Jets are just a few days away from the 2021 trade deadline, at the time of writing. And to this point, they haven't exactly been very active.

Most expected that the Jets would be de facto sellers at the deadline with players such as Jamison Crowder, Marcus Maye, and perhaps others up for grabs on the trade market.

And while that still could be the case, it hasn't happened yet. In fact, the Jets have taken a slightly different approach.

Their only move this trade season has been to acquire veteran quarterback Joe Flacco from the Philadelphia Eagles for a conditional sixth-round pick.

That proves that the Jets might not only be looking to trade away players but that they're also scouring the market for potential additions.

At 1-5, the Jets aren't going to be making any sort of postseason push. But that doesn't mean they can't make a trade now to help them out both in the short and long-term.

One position they could look to upgrade at is tight end, probably the weakest position group on the roster. The Jets will likely address the position further in the offseason, but that shouldn't prevent them from making a move at the deadline.

Let's take a look at five tight ends the Jets could trade for at this year's deadline.

5. NY Jets trade target: Devin Asiasi, New England Patriots

The New England Patriots surprised a lot of people when they drafted two tight ends within a span of two picks back in the 2020 NFL Draft. The first of which was Devin Asiasi.

The Patriots were high enough on the former UCLA standout to make him the 91st overall pick in the draft, but he failed to make the impact the team was hoping for.

Asiasi played in just nine games as a rookie hauling in two catches for 39 yards and a touchdown. He was a nonfactor for most of the year, and it wasn't a surprise to see the team go out and sign the likes of Jonnu Smith and Hunter Henry in the offseason.

Unfortunately, that hasn't exactly helped Asiasi find playing time. The former third-round pick has yet to play in a game this year and has been a healthy scratch every week.

He still has plenty of potential and a tight-end-needy team like the Jets could send a late-round pick (or perhaps a late-round swap) to the Patriots for his services.

The 24-year-old was considered to have some of the best hands in his entire draft class, and while he's not the most dynamic athlete, he's improved significantly as an in-line blocker.

Truth be told, Asiasi might already be the best tight end on the Jets roster. At the very least, he'd offer the most upside as a receiver.

The Jets should seriously considering calling up their division rivals to make this trade happen.

4. NY Jets trade target: Drew Sample, Cincinnati Bengals

Another recent Day 2 pick who potentially finds himself on the trade block is former Cincinnati Bengals second-round pick, Drew Sample.

Sample saw his most playing time in 2020 where he served as the team's starting tight end for most of the season. The former Washington standout hauled in 40 catches for 349 yards and a touchdown in 16 games and 13 starts.

But Sample was always miscast as a TE1 in Cincinnati. While he's not completely incompetent as a receiver, the strength of Sample's game has always been his blocking.

Sample served as a reliable safety net for the Bengals in 2020 while doubling as one of the most effective blocking tight ends in the NFL, per Pro Football Focus.

But with C.J. Uzomah returning from injury in 2021, Sample has seen his playing time diminish. He still has a role in Cincinnati's offense, but it's nowhere close to the role he had last year.

At just 25-years-old, Sample offers the upside and skill set that the Jets are looking for. Think of him as a younger and better version of Tyler Kroft.

His blocking skills would prove useful in both the running game and in pass protection while his surehandedness would be valuable for rookie QB Zach Wilson who is lacking a reliable, sure-handed tight end.

A Day 3 pick might be enough to get a deal done, and that's good value for a move that will help the Jets both in 2021 and beyond.

3. NY Jets trade target: Hayden Hurst, Atlanta Falcons

Hayden Hurst has been a popular name at the trade deadline this year and many expect the former first-round pick to eventually get moved.

But could the Jets be a team that's interested?

A former minor league pitcher in the Pittsburgh Pirates organization, Hurst was a late-bloomer on the gridiron but was still good enough to be drafted 25th overall by the Baltimore Ravens in the 2018 NFL Draft.

Hurst never found his footing in Baltimore and was quickly overshadowed by fellow draft pick Mark Andrews.

The Ravens shipped Hurst to Atlanta in March of 2020 and the former South Carolina standout went on to have a very productive season with the Falcons in 2020 finishing with 56 catches for 571 yards and six touchdowns.

But following the selection of Kyle Pitts in this year's draft, Hurst has taken a backseat role. The 28-year-old is a good player who could certainly provide value to other NFL teams.

The Jets could use Hurst's receiving skills and he'd immediately become the best tight end on the roster. The biggest downside is that he's playing in the final year of his rookie contract.

Hurst will be an unrestricted free agent at the end of the year meaning that the Jets would need to re-sign him in the offseason.

Still, if they want to get a head start on their tight end search, Hurst would be a rock-solid addition.

2. NY Jets trade target: O.J. Howard, Tampa Bay Buccaneers

O.J. Howard has found himself the center of trade rumors for what feels like years now. The 19th overall pick in the 2017 NFL Draft, Howard has never managed to become the star tight end than many thought he would be coming out of Alabama.

Part of that has been due to injuries that have prevented him from ever playing more than 14 games in a season. Part of that is also due to a lack of opportunities with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers never fully getting behind him as a featured player in their offense.

That's a shame too given Howard's well-rounded skill set and high ceiling. Still, at only 26-years-old, there's every reason to believe he has untapped potential waiting to be unlocked.

Perhaps the Jets could be the ones to unlock that potential.

Howard is a more-than-capable receiving threat who is far from a liability as a blocker too. It's fair to wonder what he could do as a true TE1 in an offense.

The Jets could look to trade for Howard, possibly as part of some sort of Marcus Maye swap, and bolster their tight end room in the short term.

Much like Hurst, Howard is in the final year of his current deal, but the Jets could always extend him and sure up the position for the foreseeable future.

It might just be worth it.

1. NY Jets trade target: Evan Engram, NY Giants

Another high-upside former first-round pick who has never quite reached expectations is Evan Engram. The 23rd overall pick in the 2017 NFL Draft, Engram was drafted just a few picks after O.J. Howard.

Engram has flashed his upside in the NFL including in a Pro Bowl campaign a year ago, albeit in a season in which he led all tight ends in drops.

And that right there has always been Engram's biggest issue. He lacks consistency.

At 6-foot-3, 240 pounds, few tight ends to ever play the sport have the blend of size and athleticism that Engram possesses. He truly is a wide receiver in a tight end's body.

Unfortunately, his issues with drops and his deficiencies as a blocker have held him back. But that doesn't mean he isn't still a good player.

The NY Giants are still very much in a rebuilding phase and might be looking to start over at the tight end position. Truth be told, it's probably in the best interest of both parties to go their separate ways.

But with the Jets looking for receiving upside at the tight end position, Engram might be worth exploring in a trade.

Much like Hurst and Howard, he would need to be re-signed in the offseason. But Engram is still young enough, having just turned 27-years-old, for him to be a part of the team's future as well as their present.