The New York Jets just received some bad news.
On Friday, March 6, the Las Vegas Raiders struck a blockbuster trade with the Baltimore Ravens.
The Ravens received superstar pass rusher Maxx Crosby, and the Raiders received a first-round pick in 2026 and a first-round pick in the 2027 NFL draft, per ESPN NFL Insider Adam Schefter.
The trade cannot be processed until next week, but it is in place. And Crosby is expected to be a Raven with two 1s back to Vegas.
Las Vegas Has Entered the Octagon
Following that blockbuster trade, there are now five teams that hold multiple first-round picks in the 2026 NFL draft, per ESPN’s Field Yates.
The Raiders hold the No. 1 and No. 14 overall picks. Gang Green has the No. 2 and No. 16 overall picks. The Cleveland Browns hold the No. 6 and No. 24 overall picks. The Kansas City Chiefs have the No. 9 and No. 29 overall picks. Finally, the Dallas Cowboys hold the No. 12 and No. 20 overall picks.
Raiders: 1, 14 Jets: 2, 16 Browns: 6, 24 Chiefs: 9, 29 Cowboys: 12, 20
Why is that bad news for the Jets? Las Vegas will be targeting the same positions that the Jets will be in the opening round.
Dane Brugler of The Athletic posted, “The Raiders now have the 14th pick in the 2026 NFL Draft. WR (Lemon? Tyson? Reunite Mendoza and Omar Cooper Jr.?) OL (Fano? Freeling? Ioane?) EDGE [is] also more of a need now as well.”
Jets Could Get Sniped at Some Key Positions
The green and white are desperatley searching for a wide receiver to pair up with Garrett Wilson.
It is extremely unlikely that the Jets would consider taking a pass catcher with the No. 2 overall pick in the first round. The next logical spot to take one would have been with the No. 16 overall pick.
However, with the Raiders now picking two slots ahead of them, Las Vegas now holds the cards.
PFF’s Lead NFL Draft Analyst Trevor Sikkema joined me on “Boy Green Daily” this week. During our conversation, he told me the dream scenario for the Jets at pick No. 16 is USC wide receiver Makai Lemon.
Brugler mentioned Lemon as a possibility to the Raiders with their new bonus first-rounder they just picked up in the Crosby trade.
A Kind of Sneaky Big Need for the Jets
The Jets, thankfully for their sake, have their bookend offensive tackles. Olu Fashanu and Armand Membou, health pending, should be a starting tackle tandem for the next decade.
However, there is a gaping hole at left guard. ESPN’s Rich Cimini said on “The Jake Asman Show” that the Jets plan on letting John Simpson and Alijah Vera-Tucker test the free agent market.
Insider Tony Pauline of Essentially Sports said the Jets expect to lose both players on the open market. That would leave a void that the team would have to fill this offseason.
One potential target that could make sense is Penn State offensive lineman Olaivavega Ioane. He is considered the best OL in the 2026 NFL draft.
Longtime former NFL scout and current NFL Network analyst Daniel Jeremiah has mocked Vega to the Jets in his first-round mock previously.
However, Brugler also mentioned the Raiders as a new possibility for Ioane with their newfound extra first-round selection.
The Jets are now competing with another team with multiple firsts that also has the same needs as them. Not ideal, Bob.
Jets Get Bad News After Abrupt Maxx Crosby Trade