5 players on offense Jets could target via trade during 2026 NFL Draft

J.J. McCarthy

One thing we should no longer do is give up on any quarterback after a disappointing start to their NFL career. To say it’s been a rough start for McCarthy is an understatement. It’s been about as disastrous as you could get. He missed his entire rookie season after tearing his meniscus and requiring surgery. The Vikings chose to let Sam Darnold walk in free agency and put all their eggs in one basket with McCarthy. The decision backfired as McCarthy only played 10 games last year and finished with 12 interceptions and 11 touchdowns while Darnold won the Super bowl with the Seahawks.

The Vikings signed Kyler Murray during the offseason and he's expected to be the team's starting quarterback while McCarthy will serve as the backup. But, it's looking more clear that this marriage between the former first-round pick and the team that drafted him is not working and it may make more sense for the Vikings to give him a fresh start with another team. The Jets need a backup for Geno Smith and with the options in free agency mediocre at best, they could take a chance on McCarthy, who shouldn't cost much in draft capital due to his injuries over the past two seasons.

Brian Thomas Jr.

It's shocking to say the least that we're even mentioning Brian Thomas Jr. as a potential candidate to be traded, but here we are. After a terrific rookie season where he had 1,282 receiving yards and 10 touchdowns on 87 receptions, his numbers dropped dramatically in his second year (48 receptions, 707 yards, two touchdowns) and it left many wondering if he was a good fit in head coach Liam Coen's system.

There have been multiple reports indicating Thomas was available with the Jaguars getting better production from Parker Washington and Jakobi Meyers, acquired at the trade deadline from the Raiders during last season. Meyers has since be re-signed and depending on Travis Hunter's role in the offense in 2026, it could push Thomas down the depth chart and his trade value could suffer if he has another disappointing season in Jacksonville. It may make sense to trade him at the draft than risk a weaker return if they try to move him in 2027.

Evan Engram

The Broncos gave Engram a two-year contract last season despite only playing in nine games for the Jaguars in 2024. While he had 50 receptions last year in Denver, he was under 500 yards receiving and only one touchdown. He finished with a PFF overall grade of 56.9, ranking him 35th out of 37 tight ends. His cap hit takes a major leap in 2026 at $14.1 million and that may be a number too rich for the Broncos when there are options they can explore in next week's NFL Draft.

For now, Mason Taylor is listed as the starter, but he's coming off a neck injury and it would be wise for the Jets to see how he looks during the offseason mini-camps and preseason before committing to him as the starter. With Jeremy Ruckert the only other tight end on the roster, Engram could be a solid veteran addition providing much needed depth to the position at a minimal cost and giving Geno Smith another weapon in the offense.

Tanner McKee

The Philadelphia Eagles may have overplayed their hand a bit when initially fielding offers for McKee, who has plenty of potential, but only two starts on his resume and both were after the Eagles had clinched a playoff spot. The Jets reportedly inquired about McKee but were told the asking price was a second-round pick, which ended any further conversations.

But, the Eagles muddied the waters a bit when they acquired Andy Dalton from the Carolina Panthers to back up Jalen Hurts for this season. What this means for McKee is unknown, but it's fair to say the asking price has come down a bit with the former sixth-round pick currently QB3 on Philadelphia's depth chart.

The Jets still need a backup for Geno Smith and perhaps they could consider starting up conversations again to see about McKee's availability. However, if it's for anything more than a Day 3 pick, the Jets should politely pass and look to add at other veteran options.

This article originally appeared on Jets Wire: 5 players on offense Jets could target via trade during 2026 NFL Draft