The Jets are in a strange but workable spot. After tearing things down with the Sauce Gardner and Quinnen Williams trades, New York suddenly has the kind of draft-pick stash that can fuel a real rebuild.
But that pile of picks doesn’t have to stay parked for long. If the Jets want to speed things up, they could use that capital on a star instead of another swing on a prospect.
That’s where Justin Herbert comes in.
Coming into the season, the Jets were expected to be one of the league’s worst teams, a group headed straight for the 2027 NFL Draft’s top slot. That hasn’t been the story through five weeks.
They’re not a finished product - not even close - but they also haven’t been the complete mess plenty of people projected. Geno Smith has had stretches where the offense has looked passable, and the defense has held up even after losing Gardner and Williams.
There’s at least the outline of something better here.
It still doesn’t scream “one quarterback away,” because New York needs more than that to become a steady playoff team. But it does create a real opening: the Jets can chase a proven difference-maker without wiping out their future. That’s a different kind of rebuild move, and one that makes sense if the right player becomes available.
Herbert is the name that changes the conversation. Yes, he’s been struggling this season, but the talent has never been the issue. The idea is simple enough: give him a fresh start, give him a roster with some intriguing offensive pieces, and see whether a change of scenery unlocks him again.
One proposed framework looks like this:
Jets receive: QB Justin Herbert
Chargers receive: 2027 1st-round pick, 2028 1st-round pick, 2028 2nd-round pick, DE Will McDonald
The Chargers’ slide and Herbert’s rough form create the interesting part of the equation. Under normal circumstances, a quarterback with that kind of pedigree would command three first-round picks, maybe more.
The Jets know the market for elite players, too, after getting two first-round picks from the Colts for Sauce Gardner. Herbert would cost more than that in a vacuum.
Still, his shaky start could drag the price down a bit if Los Angeles ever seriously put him on the block.
Even then, this kind of package may be the sweet spot. McDonald, a former first-round pick, hasn’t had a clear path after David Bailey arrived, but he remains a capable pass-rusher. And for a Chargers defense that doesn’t exactly feature a fearsome front, that kind of player has real appeal.
There’s also the question of which first-rounder New York would part with in 2027. The Jets currently hold the Cowboys’ pick, the Colts’ pick, and their own.
Los Angeles would likely want the best of that bunch, which could wind up being Indianapolis’ selection. From New York’s side, though, that choice may come down to how they stack their own board when the time comes.
In Other News...
Braelon Allen Just Made The Jets Backfield A Real Debate
Breece Halls new three-year, $43.75 million extension was supposed to make the Jets backfield feel settled, but a right quad injury quickly changed the conversation. With Hall sidelined, Braelon Allen has stepped into a much larger offensive role and given the staff something it did not necessarily have before: a legitimate reason to keep leaning on him. His recent work in Weeks 4 and 5 has been strong enough to turn a temporary fill-in into a real part of the plan.
The Jets had expected Hall to sit atop the depth chart once he got back, but Allens production has made the picture less tidy than it looked a month ago. The most likely result remains a committee approach, with both runners involved when Hall returns, which gives New York flexibility but also creates a debate the team probably did not want this early in the season. [Read more 🡒]
Garrett Wilson Is Giving Jets Fans A Serious WR1 Debate
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What makes the discussion around Wilson so interesting is how much of his value is showing up in the details. He is consistently squeezing more out of every target than most receivers do, whether the throw is clean or contested, and that kind of efficiency can change the way an offense feels week to week. For a team still searching for stability, Wilson is making a convincing case that the debate over who the Jets' true WR1 is may already be leaning in one direction. [Read more 🡒]
Tim Patrick Just Gave Jets Fans A Reason To Believe In This Offense
After the Jets recent win, Tim Patrick sounded like a receiver who can see what the box score does not. New Yorks offense has been fighting through injuries and uneven production through five weeks, but Patrick pointed to the talent in the room and the sense that the group is slowly getting healthier, with other players stepping up in the meantime.
Patricks optimism matters because it comes from inside a unit that still has plenty to prove. The Jets offensive rankings remain near the bottom, yet the mood around the building is not matching the numbers, and that internal confidence is starting to feel like a real part of the story as the team works its way back toward full strength. [Read more 🡒]