This NFL trade idea has the New York Jets acquiring the first pick in this year's draft from the Las Vegas Raiders and drafting Fernando Mendoza.
The Las Vegas Raiders have the first pick in the 2026 NFL Draft and they will select Indiana QB Fernando Mendoza.
However, what if the New York Jets offer the Raiders the second pick, the 33rd overall pick, the 103rd overall pick and a 2027 third-round pick for the first pick?
It's a trade idea NFL analyst Moe Moton of Bleacher Report created.
"The New York Jets are the most obvious (and best) potential trade partner for the Las Vegas Raiders," Moton wrote. "They have two first-rounders (No. 2 and No. 16) and two second-rounders in the upcoming draft. They can outbid any other team for the top pick if the Raiders are open to trading it.
"The Raiders will likely take Fernando Mendoza with the No. 1 overall pick, though one final push from Gang Green could create some dialogue between the two teams."
Mendoza led Indiana to the National Championship this past season. He also won the Heisman Trophy. The talented QB finished with 3,535 passing yards, 41 passing touchdowns and only six interceptions.
The Jets' offense was a walking disaster in 2025. They were 29th in the NFL in points per game and 32nd in passing yards.
New York's new OC is Frank Reich. Tanner Engstrand was fired after one season. The Jets went 3-14 in 2025 in Year 1 of the Aaron Glenn era and started three QBs: Justin Fields, Tyrod Taylor and Brady Cook. The three QBs combined for 2,777 passing yards and 14 touchdown passes.
The odds of the Raiders trading the first pick are very, very low. However, you can never say never in sports.
If the Jets can't get Mendoza, they will start Geno Smith at QB next season. New York acquired Smith from Las Vegas this offseason.
In his first stint with the Jets, Smith went 12-18 as a starter. He threw for 5,962 yards, 28 touchdowns and 36 interceptions. It wasn't pretty.
However, Smith is older and wiser now and believes he's going to prove his critics in New York wrong.
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