After a stellar three-year stint with the New York Jets, tight end Tyler Conklin moved on in free agency this offseason by signing a one-year deal with the Los Angeles Chargers.
Not only has that left a void at tight end, as the team currently has unproven former third-round pick Jeremy Ruckert slated to start, it leaves the pass-catcher-needy Jets yet another reliable target short, which is bad news for New York's hopes of getting the most out of quarterback Justin Fields in his first season.
But there might be an opportunity for the Jets to bring in a massive upgrade via the trade market, where Baltimore Ravens tight end Mark Andrews could be available this offseason.
Taking that into consideration, Bleacher Report's Moe Moton proposed a trade that sees New York land Andrews in exchange for multiple NFL draft picks.
- Ravens Get: 2025 4th-round pick, 2025 6th-round pick
- Jets Get: TE Mark Andrews
"Andrews would be the top tight end on the Jets roster, and perhaps the clear-cut No. 2 option behind wide receiver Garrett Wilson in the passing game," Moton wrote of Andrews joining the Jets.
When asked about Andrews' future with the team recently, Ravens general manager Eric DeCosta was non-committal. While he did praise Andrews, DeCosta did not say the star tight end definitely wouldn't be traded.
"I never know what's going to happen," DeCosta said this week. "And I would never want to say this or that. But I can tell you this: Mark Andrews is a warrior. He's played his butt off for us."
Andrews is entering the final year of his $56 million contract and is coming off a season in which he posted his lowest yardage total in a non-injury-shortened season since 2018, his rookie year. Andrews also had an ugly drop in the playoffs that was the final blow to the Ravens' Super Bowl hopes.
The Jets should definitely be interested, but Moton's proposal is probably too much. After all, Andrews could be just a one-year rental and there have been some very talented receivers who have been acquired for less recently. At most, it'll likely require a fourth-round pick to get Andrews, but we think a fifth is more suitable.
Adding Andrews would give Fields another much-needed weapon, and he'd offer a mentor to the team's younger tight ends in Ruckert and Stone Smartt. If the price is right, it makes plenty of sense for the Jets to make a play for Andrews.
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