RUMOR: Blockbuster NFL Draft Trade Is Brewing Between The Los Angeles Chargers And New York Jets /d

Los Angeles Chargers coach Jim Harbaugh and New York Jets coach Robert Saleh (Photos via Getty)

With the No. 5 overall pick in Jim Harbaugh’s first draft as head coach, the Los Angeles Chargers will be closely watched at Thursday’s NFL draft. A lot of options are allegedly on the table.

Albert Breer of Sports Illustrated reported that the Los Angeles Chargers are “open to moving down,” which is a scenario he deemed more likely if the Arizona Cardinals do not trade out of the No. 4 pick.

In fact, an NFL executive told ESPN‘s Jeremy Fowler that the team is reportedly “eager” to trade back from the No. 5 pick in the 2024 NFL draft.

“The Chargers have made that clear—they want to move back.”

“They probably want an [offensive] tackle.”

Fowler then mentioned the “long-standing relationship” between new Los Angeles Chargers general manager Joe Hortiz & New York Jets general manager Joe Douglas from their “days together in Baltimore.”

It sounds like we might be getting a blockbuster NFL Draft trade between the two teams.

In the past few months, the Chargers have been linked to wide receivers and offensive tackles throughout the draft process. The team needs a ton of help at several positions, so trading their pick in the NFL Draft could net them so much more draft capital to focus on multiple spots instead of just one high pick.

One could argue wide receiver is their more pressing issue after trading Keenan Allen and releasing Mike Williams this NFL offseason. If a player like wide receiver Marvin Harrison Jr. is still there, the Chargers will likely stay where they are.

The New York Jets are believed to be all-in on chasing a Super Bowl during the 2024 season now that Aaron Rodgers is returning from a torn Achilles. The Jets, who own the No. 10 pick, are likely eyeing an offensive weapon to help Rodgers.

ESPN‘s Rich Cimini reported this week that New York general manager Joe Douglas is exploring the possibility of moving up in the draft to select one of the top receiver prospects.

“It would be an even louder statement if they trade up for a playmaker. The Jets are exploring those options, league sources said,” Cimini wrote. “It would be the ultimate win-now move, giving up current (and perhaps future) draft capital to move up for a pass-catcher. Douglas is an aggressive GM, having traded up in the first round in two of his four drafts. In those cases, though, he had multiple first-round picks.”

Many Moves Are Expected During The 2024 NFL Draft

NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell (Photo by David Becker/Getty Images)