The New York Jets finished the year at 3-14 and had one of their worst seasons in recent memory. They didn't have an interception, their leading receiver last caught a pass on October 6th, and they had the worst five-game stretch, maybe ever in NFL history.
And yet, they missed out on the top pick in the draft. The Las Vegas Raiders are picking first overall and are very likely to take Fernando Mendoza, the best quarterback in the draft by a wide margin.
For the Jets, finding a way to trade up with the Raiders and take Mendoza would be ideal. But, as ESPN's Ryan McFadden writes, such a scenario isn't just unlikely, it's one that the team likely won't even consider.
Jets get bad news on trade-up odds with Raiders
"Would the Raiders entertain a trade for the No. 1 pick? I doubt it," McFadden writes. "It's hard to imagine the Raiders passing on Fernando Mendoza, especially after ownership, including Tom Brady, attended the College Football Playoff National Championship."
The Jets, in an ideal world, would have the number one overall pick in the upcoming NFL Draft. But they don't have it, and the Raiders aren't going to trade out of it.
Tom Brady and the Raiders front office are all but locked into the top pick, and are almost certainly going to take Mendoza first overall, leaving the Jets without a star quarterback to take at the top of the draft.
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While they could turn to Ty Simpson or Trinidad Chambliss later in the draft, they don't have the same potential and promise that Mendoza has.
And the Raiders, with their rough QB play from former Jets quarterback Geno Smith in 2025, are certainly going to take the best quarterback in the draft in Mendoza.
Any Jets fans holding out even the slightest bit of hope that they could find a way to trade up to first overall with the Raiders, with all of the draft capital they have over the next two drafts, should put those hopes to rest.
Mendoza is almost a lock to go to the Raiders at first overall, leaving the Jets to go elsewhere at 2nd overall, and at the quarterback position in the upcoming draft.
More Jets news:
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- Jets' struggles have a writer from The Ringer wishing Breece Hall leaves in free agency
- Jets give team MVP to special teamer who was cut in Week 4