3 Players Jets Must Consider Trading for at 2022 NFL Deadline
The New York Jets suffered two massive blows to their offense in Week 7.
The AFC East side worked quickly to remedy its running back situation by acquiring James Robinson from the Jacksonville Jaguars. Robinson will partner with Michael Carter to replace Breece Hall, who suffered a torn ACL on Sunday.
Robert Saleh and his staff still have to figure out how they will replace Alijah Vera-Tucker, who is out for the season with a torn triceps.
Vera-Tucker was one of the most impressive offensive linemen through the first seven weeks because of his success at multiple positions.
The Jets were able to deal with other injuries because Vera-Tucker and others played so well in new positions.
New York may have to go out on the trade market to land an offensive lineman to soften the blow of Vera-Tucker's loss.
The Jets could look internally for replacements as well, but with three offensive tackles already on injured reserve, their best route for top-quality replacements is on the trade market.
Andre Dillard
The Philadelphia Eagles may finally part ways with Andre Dillard before the 2022 NFL trade deadline.
Dillard does not have a starting spot available to him on the Eagles offensive line. His return from injury could make for perfect timing for a team, like the Jets, to trade for him to bolster their offensive line.
Dillard's 21-day practice window from injured reserve opened up a few weeks ago. He lost the first part of the season to a forearm injury.
The Jets would be taking a risk on Dillard because he has not been able to lock down a starting spot on a consistent basis in Philadelphia.
The benefit of that is the Jets would not have to mortgage many draft picks to acquire the offensive tackle.
New York can add an interior lineman and reconfigure its line again, but finding a like-for-like replacement on the edge for Vera-Tucker would be ideal.
Dillard would likely cost one or two late-round draft picks, and he is still young enough that if he succeeds, he could play a role on the Jets offensive line for years to come.
Jack Conklin
If the Jets want more experience at offensive tackle, they should look to the Cleveland Browns for Jack Conklin.
Cleveland may be more willing to deal Conklin than its other tradeable assets because the 28-year-old is in the last year of his contract.
The Browns could offload Conklin to the Jets, or another team, for one or two draft picks as they focus on building their core for the future as best as possible without a 2023 first-round selection.
Conklin's most intriguing quality to the Jets is that he has played right tackle for the majority of his career.
Conklin could slide right into the role that was vacated by Vera-Tucker. The Jets can pair him with Duane Brown on the edges to protect Zach Wilson.
Having a 37-year-old left tackle in Brown anchor the offensive line is not ideal, but the Jets could make it work if they land Conklin to play on the right.
Laremy Tunsil
Laremy Tunsil could be the Jets' top trade target if they look to improve the left side of their offensive line.
Tunsil has anchored the left side of the offensive line in Miami and Houston for most of his career, and he would be a great addition to the Jets to protect their second-year signal-caller.
Tunsil would come at a higher trade price than Conklin, but it is the one big swing the Jets could take on the offensive line trade market.
Houston is already mired in the bottom of the AFC South, and any small chance of qualifying for the playoffs may already be out the door at 1-4-1.
The Jets need to be smart with their draft capital, and if a deal for Tunsil is too expensive, they should look elsewhere.
But it does not hurt to at least reach out to the Texans to see what a potential deal for Tunsil would look like.