The New York Jets, under head coach Aaron Glenn and general manager Darren Mougey, have built a team to contend in the future. This season doesn't mean much, other than securing a top draft choice.
Ideally, the Jets are hoping to find a franchise quarterback in the upcoming 2026 NFL Draft. But that might be easier said than done amid the latest roster move from the Las Vegas Raiders.
According to Tom Pelissero of NFL Network, the Raiders are placing superstar tight end Brock Bowers on injured reserve, ending his season. This is huge news for the Jets, as the Raiders are the biggest competition for the top quarterbacks in the 2026 NFL draft.
Why Jets got bad news amid Raiders' Brock Bowers IR decision
Bowers is landing on injured reserve, severely depleting the Raiders' offense. While Ashton Jeanty is still good to go, the rest of the Raiders offense isn't nearly as good.
Tre Tucker, Tyler Lockett, Jack Bech, and new starting tight end Michael Mayer are not the best group of receivers for Geno Smith in Week 17.
With the 2-13 Raiders likely heading towards a top pick in the NFL Draft, their Week 17 matchup against the New York Giants is of utmost importance for the Jets.
If the Raiders win, they would fall out of the top pick. The Giants, with Jaxson Dart, a first-rounder from a year ago, wouldn't need a quarterback, leaving the door open for the Jets to execute a trade-up.
With the Raiders likely seeking a quarterback, and Fernando Mendoza being the clear best option, and likely the only first-round quarterback talent, the Raiders getting the top pick would be a huge deal for the Jets.
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While the Giants would likely need a lot of capital to execute a trade-down, the Jets have those picks and could swing a blockbuster draft-night trade to land Mendoza as the franchise quarterback.
Bowers landing on injured reserve is big news for the Jets. They could've kept playing him to close out the year, but the Raiders are ending his season, as they head into a matchup against the Giants short-handed.
This matchup is for sole possession of the number 1 overall pick in the 2026 NFL Draft, and if the Raiders lose to the Giants, it would be devastating news for the Jets' odds of finding their franchise quarterback in the 2026 NFL Draft.
Jets fans and personnel will be cheering against their New York counterpart in Week 17, as a Raiders win over the Giants would leave open the door to the Jets being able to trade up for the top quarterback in the 2026 NFL Draft.
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