In the wise words of Sergeant James Doakes, “Surprise Mother [Expletive].”
A plot twist less than a week from the 2026 NFL draft. The New York Giants are shipping off All-Pro defensive tackle Dexter Lawrence to the Cincinnati Bengals in exchange for the No. 10 overall pick in the first round.
ESPN’s Rich Cimini indicated on social media that this isn’t necessarily good news for the New York Jets.
“The Dexter Lawrence trade could impact the Jets at 16. Obviously, the Giants are more likely to take a WR at 10 than the Bengals would have in the 10 slot. The Jets need to come out of this draft with a WR who can contribute right away,” Cimini posted.
A Lot of Buzz Connecting Giants to WR Market
“Giants GM Joe Schoen flew to Arizona to attend Jordan Tyson’s workout yesterday. Schoen also had dinner with Tyson the night before, sources told me and @RapSheet. With NYG at 10 after the Dexter Lawrence, Tyson’s odds of being a top 10 pick have now increased significantly,” NFL Network’s Mike Garafolo posted.
“Which is not to say Tyson can’t go earlier than 10. He could go 5, even. In 2022, Joe Schoen and the Giants took Kayvon Thibodeaux at 5 because they knew they’d get Evan Neal at 7. Weren’t positive it would’ve played out the other way. A few ways for Schoen to play it now,” Garafolo added.
Ryan Dunleavy, who now covers the NFL for New York Post Sports, predicted that the Giants would select Arizona State wide receiver Jordyn Tyson in a brand new mock draft he posted following the Lawrence news.
The WR Conversation for the Jets
There appears to be an upper echelon at the wide receiver position. According to most experts, there is a top three and then a bunch of other guys.
NFL draft analyst Drew Beatty told me on “Boy Green Daily” that there isn’t a receiver worth taking with the No. 2 overall pick.
The problem is that the top trio of pass catchers is likely going to go between picks No. 3 and No. 15 overall. If that happens, the Jets would be in a tough spot at pick No. 16 overall.
They would either have to pivot to a new position or reach for whoever they deem the No. 4 wide receiver in this class.
You don’t want to force a square peg into a round hole. The Jets desperately need a wide receiver, and every team in the NFL knows that. This puts the green and white in a compromising position.
There have been plenty of rumors that the Jets could look to be aggressive and trade up in the first round. This Bengals-Giants trade only adds more fuel to that fire if the Jets truly want to acquire one of those top wideouts.
According to the consensus big board, here are the top wide receivers in April’s draft:
- Ohio State’s Carnell Tate (No. 7 overall ranked player)
- USC’s Makai Lemon (No. 12 overall ranked player)
- Arizona State’s Jordyn Tyson (No. 15 overall ranked player)
That player would pair with Garrett Wilson to form a new dynamic duo in New York.
Jets Get Bad News After Dexter Lawrence Giants-Bengals Trade