Jets trade veteran DE John Franklin-Myers to Broncos for 2026 sixth-round pick

Two days ago, defensive end John Franklin-Myers had a cryptic post on X, formerly Twitter.

“Life’s a trampoline, I’m gone bounce back regardless,” Myers wrote.

Now we understand the reasoning for the post.

The Jets traded Franklin-Myers to the Broncos for a 2026 sixth-round pick, according to sources. ESPN first reported the news of Franklin-Myers being shipped to Denver.

Franklin-Myers has been one of Gang Green’s defensive leaders the previous four seasons. He registered 125 tackles and 17.5 sacks during that span. That includes the 2023 season when Franklin-Myers finished with 33 tackles and 3.5 sacks.

The decision to move on from Franklin-Myers, who has been a defensive stalwart, might surprise some. But one reason for the deal is the Jets need to free up salary cap space.

Entering the 2024 NFL Draft, the Jets had just $2.9 million in salary cap space. After the trade for Franklin-Myers is official, the Jets will have a cap savings of $7.3 million. But Gang Green will absorb a dead-money hit of $9 million.

According to ESPN, Franklin-Myers will sign a two-year, $15 million restructured contract as part of the trade from the Jets. The new contract will him pay a total of $10 million guaranteed, including $8 million fully guaranteed at signing and $4 million signing bonus.

In 2021, Franklin-Myers signed a four-year, $55 million contract with the Jets that included a guarantee of $30.2 million.

Franklin-Myers also became expendable after the Jets acquired Haason Reddick in a trade with the Eagles last month. Now the Jets will hope their defense, which finished third in yards allowed last season, won’t miss a beat now that Franklin-Myers is heading to the Mile High city.

Now, more of a microscope will be placed on defensive end Will McDonald, who was surprisingly selected 15th overall in the 2023 draft. In 15 games, McDonald finished with just 14 tackles and three sacks in a part-time role.

The Jets hope that McDonald will have a second season similar to Jermaine Johnson‘s 2023 campaign. After recording just 29 tackles and 2.5 sacks during his rookie season, Johnson finished with 55 tackles and 7.5 sacks in 2023. Johnson was a Pro Bowl replacement for Los Angeles Chargers defensive end Khalil Mack, who did not participate.