During the first round of the 2023 NFL Draft, the Patriots sent the No. 14 overall pick to the Steelers for the No. 17 pick and a fourth-rounder.
Apparently, Bill Belichick and the Patriots made that trade to “screw over” the Jets.
“Belichick did it just to f— the Jets,” a general manager told Jason La Canfora.
La Canfora heard a similar reaction from another front-office official.
“Bill will try to screw them over any chance he gets,” a second official said. “He knew exactly what he was doing.”
“Belichick did it just to f— the Jets,” one NFL GM told @JasonLaCanfora of the Pats’ first-round trade
“Bill will try to screw them over any chance he gets. He knew exactly what he was doing,” another front-office official said. https://t.co/KAZt0FGDMH
— Dan Steinberg (@dcsportsbog) May 2, 2023
The Jets were slated to pick at No. 15. The consensus was they wanted Georgia offensive tackle Broderick Jones.
After trading with the Patriots, the Steelers used the 14th pick on Jones. That led to the Jets selecting Iowa State defensive lineman Will McDonald IV.
Belichick has never shied away from an opportunity to hurt the Jets. It seems like this draft-day trade was a savvy way of accomplishing that goal.