The New York Jets have a lot of work to do this offseason. They need a new quarterback, another premium pass-catching threat, and almost an entirely new defense.
According to Sumer Sports’ EPA/play, the Jets were the 30th-ranked defense in the entire NFL, including 25th against the run, and dead last against the pass.
New York couldn’t even consistently rush the passer, totaling 26 sacks across 17 games, just one spot ahead of the San Francisco 49ers for the least amount of sacks in 2025.
If the Jets want to take a step forward defensively in 2026, they need some more juice from their pass rushers, and with all the draft capital they have stocked up, there may be a trade they can make to land a soon-to-be two-time Defensive Player of the Year winner.
Jets Trade Proposal Lands Myles Garrett
In a trade idea proposed by Sportsnaut’s Jason Burgos, the New York Jets land Cleveland Browns defensive end Myles Garrett.
The single-season sack record holder would immediately transform New York’s defense.
New York Jets receive: Myles Garrett, 2026 No. 6 overall pick
Cleveland Browns receive: 2026 No. 2 overall pick, 2026 No. 16 overall pick, 2027 first rounder, 2027 third rounder, 2027 fourth rounder
“The NY Jets have a major luxury in April because they have the 16th pick overall, too. So they don’t need to force things and can trade down while adding proven talent to the roster. With the Cleveland Browns just as desperate for a franchise QB, Gang Green could take advantage of that while adding a game-changing talent,” wrote Burgos.
“There have long been rumblings about a Myles Garrett trade. Could the second and sixteenth picks this year, and a first, third, and fourth in 2027, be enough to land him and get Cleveland’s pick at six? Maybe. It would give New York the best pass rusher in the game after trading two defensive Pro Bowlers in October, and the chance to take an elite QB or a top six player in April.”
After trading away Sauce Gardner and Quinnen Williams this past season, New York is severely lacking in star power on their defense.
This hypothetical trade would remedy that immediately.
A Steep Price to Pay for a Rebuilding Team
The New York Jets aren’t built to win right now, and trading for Garrett doesn’t really make a whole lot of sense for the future outlook of their team.
But if head coach Aaron Glenn and general manager Darren Mougey are feeling the warmth of their seats, they could feel pressure to make a big move and improve their ceiling for the 2026 season.
After all, Garrett, by himself, had only three fewer sacks than the entire Jets team had in 2025. He would absolutely kick the defense up a couple of notches.
New York’s defensive ends underperformed this past season, and it contributed to their porous defense.
With two former first-round picks at the edge spots in Jermaine Johnson II and Will McDonald IV, you would think the Jets could’ve gotten some better production from their supposed stars.
Perhaps one of those two players could be involved in the trade to lower the amount of draft capital being sent to the Cleveland Browns.
Armed with the No. 6 pick in the draft after the hypothetical trade, New York could draft one of the top wide receivers in the class and acquire a veteran such as Kirk Cousins or Mac Jones to stabilize the quarterback position as they attempt to compete in 2026.
Jets Trade Idea Lands Former DPOY Winner, Move Back in First Round