Tampa Bay Buccaneers wide receiver Mike Evans Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports

Hypothetical trade has Jets making questionable decision

By Eric Smithling | Last updated Aug 10, 2023 1:22 PM ET

The New York Jets need offensive line help, but that isn't what they get in Seth Walder's hypothetical trade involving New York and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Instead, the ESPN writer has the Jets throwing draft picks at wide receiver Mike Evans.

Confused? So are we.

Garrett Wilson is entrenched as the Jets' top wide receiver, and the team has depth at wideout with Corey Davis, Allen Lazard, Mecole Hardman Jr. and Randall Cobb, among others. Evans is a potential future Hall of Famer, but his addition wouldn't solve New York's biggest problem.

What good is adding Evans if quarterback Aaron Rodgers doesn't have time to throw the ball?

The Jets would be much better off kicking the tires on a trade for an offensive tackle. Wednesday's joint practice with the Carolina Panthers was frustrating for New York as pass-rusher Brian Burns wreaked havoc on the offensive line.

Spin move nasty ‍ pic.twitter.com/SJGLi74nav
— Carolina Panthers (@Panthers) August 9, 2023

Brian Burns

Dips inside to avoid the chip, spins back outside to lose the OT #Panthers pic.twitter.com/qZF1vIXujk
— Unnecessary Bluntness Owner/Coach/QB (@DuncOnDemand) August 10, 2023

ESPN's Mike Greenberg, a huge Jets fan, implored the team to explore a trade for Rodgers' former Packers teammate David Bakhtiari. Green Bay probably wouldn't agree to that trade, but fortifying the offensive line would be a much wiser use of New York's financial capital than adding to a position that's already solid.

Greenberg's "Get Up" colleague Damien Woody agrees that the offensive line, not wide receiver, is the Jets' biggest need entering the season.

During an appearance on "The Pat McAfee Show," the former Pro Bowl OL said, "The question mark has always been the [offensive] tackles... What the hell is going on as far as protecting Aaron Rodgers?"

"I've been vocal about the Jets offensive line heading into the season because they do have some question marks..

If you can't find a way to protect your QB nothing else matters" ~ @damienwoody #PMSLive pic.twitter.com/IhO5FLugUP
— Pat McAfee (@PatMcAfeeShow) August 10, 2023

It's becoming increasingly clear the Jets needs help on their offensive line. If the franchise is smart, it will be in the market for a trade, just as Walder hypothesizes. It just won't be for a wide receiver, but at a position group New York actually needs help.

Eric Smithling

Eric Smithling is a writer based in New Orleans, LA, whose byline also appears on Athlon Sports. He has been with Yardbarker since September 2022, primarily covering the NFL and college football, but also the NBA, WNBA, men’s and women’s college basketball, NHL, tennis and golf. He holds a film studies degree from the University of New Orleans

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