Why Jets' interest in Jeremiyah Love is likely a trade smokescreen

Why Jets' interest in Jeremiyah Love is likely a trade smokescreen originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

The New York Jets have the second overall pick in the 2026 NFL Draft, and while they will have their pick of any non-Fernando Mendoza player, it's not a simple selection.

There's not a clear first-round QB worth taking with this pick, and there isn't some blue-chip prospect at a premium position that would make this a no-brainer decision. With some uncertainty, the Jets could consider Jeremiyah Love.

However, The Athletic's Zack Rosenblatt highlighted how the Jets' interest in Love, after reports of the RB and the Jets meeting, is a smokescreen to try to bait a trade from a team interested in Love to trade up with the Jets for the second overall pick.

Jets are trying to bait teams with Love interest

"Of all these scenarios, this feels like the biggest smokescreen," Rosenblatt writes. "The Jets are not a running back away from contention... More likely, the Love meeting was a smokescreen to get the juices flowing for some of the other teams drafting in the Top 10 who might want to add love - perhaps the Giants or Commanders."

While the Jets could take Love with the No. 2 overall pick, it's incredibly unlikely, and their interest in the standout Notre Dame running back is simply a smokescreen.

Such a strategy is likely being used to try to get a team to trade up with the Jets for the second overall pick. While spending a top-10 pick on a running back would be expensive, Love might be the best prospect in this year's class.

More: Jets ideal pick at No. 2 overall is Arvell Reese out of Ohio State

If a team like the Washington Commanders, New York Giants, or even the Tennessee Titans wanted to get Love, trading up with the Jets might be their only option.

The Jets could use help at a lot of different spots. Trading down might not make the most sense when someone like Arvell Reese or David Bailey would be a great addition.

But, if the Jets could move down a few spots, and still land one of those players, or move down a bit more and get some other prospect they like, it wouldn't be the worst idea.

The Jets reported linkage to Love is not actually meant to be what they plan to do with the second pick, but simply opening the door to such an option with the hope of some team eyeing Love panicking and trading up with the Jets for the No. 2 overall pick.

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