Draft Trade? Why New York Jets, Cincinnati Bengals Hold Keys to First Round

The New York Jets hold the keys to many organization's dreams during the 2024 NFL Draft. One team has the value the franchise is looking for in a pick swap.

With the 10th pick in the 2024 NFL Draft, the New York Jets select...

That's what fans of Gang Green are waiting to hear. The draft is just over two weeks away, and there's plenty for New York to worry about. Should they take an offensive lineman or skill player at 10? Will a team offer them enough for a trade down? If a trade is even agreed upon, what kind of capital will be sent their way?

With so much time between the start of the selection process in Detroit, New York can weigh all their options without having to overly worry about their incoming team. They solved most of their holes in free agency, and the ones still available have plenty of free agents remaining to choose from.

Sep 25, 2022; East Rutherford, New Jersey, USA; New York Jets head coach Robert Saleh (left)

Ed Mulholland-USA TODAY Sports

There's one draft scenario, though, that could lead the Jets to not only solving a central point of emphasis this offseason, but also helping another team with a glaring need of their own.

When the Cincinnati Bengals make their intended selection with the 18th overall pick, top rookie tackles like Penn State's Olu Fashanu, Oregon State's Taliese Fuaga, and Notre Dame's Joe Alt will be off the board. They are the top three tackles after all, and will have plenty of offensive lineman-needy teams to take them.

But what if the Bengals wanted to trade up to get one of those top tackles to protect their franchise quarterback? Do they have the resources?

In the end, a trade between the Bengals and Jets would not only make sense, but it would help both teams out in major ways.

To start, it's important to note that Drafttek.com - the website that values specific draft selections in numbered value - has the Bengals' first two draft picks (18th overall and 49th overall) at 1,310 points. Those points are almost dead equal to the Jets 1,300 points with their 10th overall selection. Should a trade be made, New York could add in a sixth-round pick (17 points) to equal out the value for Cincinnati to accomplish a trade.

Should this specific trade happen, the Bengals could get into striking distance for one of the top tackles in the game, and the Jets could add a second-round pick in a very deep draft class to not only acquire more offensive line help but add to the receiver position - a move that would sure to make former NFL MVP Aaron Rodgers extremely happy.

Would the Bengals first and second round picks be enough to entice the Jets to draft one of the next tier of offensive linemen like Troy Fautanu, JC Latham or Amarius Mims? By getting more bites of the apple, they could not just help their team in the long-term future, but also provide depth a two positions (with a second round pick) to help the team compete in 2024.