Jets urged to make aggressive NFL Draft trade with No. 16 pick for two reasons

Q: Why are the Jets considering a trade with their No. 16 pick in the 2026 NFL Draft?

The Jets are urged to trade the No. 16 pick to move up in the draft and target a cornerback or wide receiver, aiming for immediate impact players.

Q: What picks do the New York Jets have in the 2026 NFL Draft?

The Jets hold the No. 2 pick, along with the No. 16, No. 33, and No. 44 picks in the 2026 NFL Draft.

Q: Who is advocating for the Jets to trade their No. 16 pick?

ESPN's Bill Barnwell is urging the Jets to trade their No. 16 pick to enhance their draft strategy.

Q: What positions are the Jets targeting if they trade up in the draft?

If the Jets trade up, they are looking to select either a cornerback or a wide receiver.

Jets urged to make aggressive NFL Draft trade with No. 16 pick for two reasons originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

The New York Jets are in a phenomenal spot in the 2026 NFL Draft. While they might not have the first overall pick and Fernando Mendoza, they do have the No. 2 pick, along with picks 16, 33, and 44.

Four selections inside the top 44 picks is a great scenario for the Jets, and should be the resources Darren Mougey needs to land multiple instant-impact players. While No. 2 looks locked in with an edge, what should they do with the No. 16 pick?

Well, ESPN's Bill Barnwell is urging the Jets not to make the pick at No. 16 overall, and instead use their second first-round selection to move up in the draft with either a cornerback or a wide receiver in mind up the board.

Jets urged to trade up in NFL Draft for CB or WR

"Gang Green has two second-rounders (Nos. 33 and 44) and two fourth-rounders (Nos. 104 and 140), so general manager Darren Mougey should have the latitude to move around," Barnwell writes. "especially if teams trading up can pay discount prices in a year in which there doesn't appear to be a ton of demand to jump ahead."

The Jets could use one of their second-round picks (likely No. 44 overall) to jump up in the draft for a player. Barnwell called out a cornerback or a wide receiver as possible trade-up candidates for the Jets.

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Picking at No. 16 overall, the Jets might be able to land a decent wide receiver. But, as Barnwell pointed out, jumping in front of the Dolphins and Rams at Nos. 11 and 13 would be a smart move.

If Carnell Tate fell to the ninth or 10th pick, the Jets should be willing to get aggressive and move up to get him. Coming out of the draft with a top edge and Tate would be an incredible haul, even if it costs their 44th pick.

And if Aaron Glenn is eyeing more defensive help, "every team picking from Nos. 7-12 and the Ravens (No. 14) and Buccaneers (No. 15) will at least be considering taking a defensive back with their first-round pick," Barnwell writes.

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To beat out those CB-needy teams, the Jets might need to leap inside the top 10, if not higher, to land one of the top cornerbacks like a Mansoor Delane or Jermod McCoy.

Barnwell believes the Jets should be looking to trade up in the 2026 NFL Draft. With their strong capital and the lackluster draft class, it would make sense to get the few elite players on their board instead of adding a lot of depth.

The Jets need starters, and more specifically, star players on both sides of the ball. Moving up in the draft from No. 16 into the top-10 could get them an elite player at WR or CB, both of which are major needs for the Jets heading into the draft.