On the opening night of the 2023 NFL draft, one first-round maneuver may have flown under the radar a bit to the casual football fan.
However, more astute fans may have raised an eyebrow when seeing the Patriots trade back three spots with the Steelers, letting them draft the last of the four top offensive tackle prospects still sitting on the board ahead of the Jets.
Pittsburgh moved up from pick No. 17 to pick No. 14, leaping over New York at pick No. 15 to grab Georgia’s Broderick Jones.
After trading for Aaron Rodgers in the days prior to the draft, it was widely known that the Jets coveted offensive line talent to help protect their 39-year old quarterback.
“Bill will try to screw them [the Jets] over any chance he gets,” said another NFL personnel executive to the Washington Post. “He knew exactly what he was doing
Two front office NFL executives, in speaking with the Washington Post anonymously, believe the trade was done solely to prevent their hated AFC East division rival from acquiring a top-tier talent of need.
One general manager pointed out that the lack of compensation the Patriots received: "They should have had to give up a [third-round pick] and not a four to move up there."
With all the top offensive tackle prospects off the board, the Jets strengthened the opposite side of the ball, tabbing Iowa State edge rusher Will McDonald IV.
The Jets did invest in offensive line talent later in the draft, grabbing Wisconsin center Joe Tippmann in the second round as well as Pittsburgh offensive tackle Carter Warren in the fourth round.