Jets GM Open to Trading Up or Down from No. 7 in 2025 NFL Draft amid QB Rumors

The New York Jets aren't opposed to doing some wheeling and dealing in the first round of the 2025 NFL draft.

According to ESPN's Rich Cimini, new Jets general manager Darren Mougey said Tuesday that he is open to a trade up or trade down from No. 7 overall.

The Jets will be in the market for a quarterback this offseason via the draft, free agency or trade after announcing earlier this month that they are parting ways with veteran signal-caller Aaron Rodgers.

After 2021 No. 2 overall draft pick Zach Wilson flopped, the Jets addressed the quarterback position by acquiring Rodgers in a trade with the Green Bay Packers prior to the 2023 season.

The Jets hoped the four-time NFL MVP and future Hall of Famer would be able to get them to the playoffs for the first time since 2010, but he suffered a season-ending torn Achilles during the first drive of the first game of the 2023 campaign.

Rodgers returned to start all 17 games in 2024, and although he completed 63.0 percent of his passes for 3,897 yards, 28 touchdowns and 11 interceptions, he lost much of the mobility and big-play ability he had earlier in his career.

The Jets went just 5-12, and at 41 years old and coming off a torn Achilles, they decided it was time to move on to a different answer at quarterback.

New York is set to return veteran quarterback Tyrod Taylor next season, and he could be an option to take over as the starter.

Also, ESPN's Jeremy Fowler recently reported during an appearance on SportsCenter that the Jets "could have some interest" in free-agent quarterback Justin Fields and are a "sleeper option" to sign the former Chicago Bears and Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback.

The draft is also an option for the Jets, although it is unclear if a viable quarterback will fall to them at No. 7 overall.

As of now, Miami's Cam Ward and Colorado's Shedeur Sanders are the only quarterbacks considered to be surefire first-round picks in the 2025 draft.

The Tennessee Titans, Cleveland Browns, New York Giants and Las Vegas Raiders are all scheduled to pick ahead of the Jets, and all of them have a glaring need at quarterback.

However, if the Jets like one of the quarterbacks enough, it sounds as though Mougey would be willing to explore the possibility of a trade up.

The same is true for a trade down if the Jets aren't enamored with the options available once they are on the clock.