The idea comes from NBC Sports analyst Chris Simms, who made his one and only mock draft of the year predicting the Jets would target an interior guard and move ahead of the Ravens, who hold the 14th pick, to secure Ioane.
Simms argues Ioane could be viewed as the top guard in the class and suggests the Jets’ need on the inside justifies moving up, framing the pick as a transformation move for a team aiming to strengthen the trenches.
Regarding the trade cost, the NFL draft value chart places 13 at about 1,150 points and 16 at about 1,000 points, a gap of roughly 150 points (a late third-round pick). The Jets would need to overcome a missing third-round selection from a prior deal, making the structure of any trade key.
One plausible package that could align the two sides would be Jets receiving 13, 61, and 207, while Rams would take 16 and 44. That near-equal exchange would hover around the same overall value, with a slight edge that might come down to mid-sixth-round considerations.
From a strategic perspective, upgrading inside the trenches could be the most impactful move. The Jets’ current line is workable, but Ioane could start at right guard with Joe Tippmann moving to center, creating a potential starting five of Olumuyiwa Fashanu, Dylan Parham, Tippmann, Ioane, and Armand Membou, while Josh Myers could serve as a versatile sixth man.
