The New York Jets haven’t beaten the Kansas City Chiefs on the football field since 2017. However, they did claim a victory recently off the field.
Matt Derrick of Chiefs Digest revealed in a recent column that Kansas City was in trade discussions with the Cleveland Browns for defensive tackle Jowon Briggs. However, the Browns chose the Jets’ trade offer instead of the Chiefs.
On Wednesday, August 20, the Jets sent a 2026 sixth-round pick to Cleveland for Briggs and a 2026 seventh-round draft choice.
We’ve traded for DL Jowon Briggs.
DETAILS 📰: https://t.co/HLL8YdUK20 pic.twitter.com/VNylaTdg1o
— New York Jets (@nyjets) August 20, 2025
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The Reason for the Jets ‘Win’ Appears Obvious
Derrick revealed that the Browns “opted” for the Jets’ sixth rounder instead of the Chiefs’ sixth rounder.
That indicates that the Jets’ and Chiefs’ trade offers to the Browns were exactly the same. So why did Cleveland choose the Jets?
Well, Kansas City hasn’t had a losing season since 2012. Over that same period, the Jets have finished with a .500 or worse record in 12 of the last 13 years.
Cleveland is betting that the Jets’ record will likely be worse than the Chiefs’ this season, which will deliver a better draft choice for them.
The Jets Ended up Double Dipping Because of Browns Decision
That choice by Cleveland benefitted the Jets in two ways.
Primarily, they landed the player they wanted in Briggs. The former Virginia and Cincinnati product is a 23-year-old with upside.
“In a tiny sample last season, Briggs posted a 53% RSWR [run stop win rate], which is excellent, albeit in a limited assortment of 59 run plays. Still, the Jets saw something, and the almost 24-year-old can be a useful depth player now with some future upside,” ESPN’s Seth Walder explained.
The second way the Jets benefited, we just learned, based on this new information about the Chiefs missing out.
Five days after the Chiefs’ trade offer for Briggs was rejected, they turned to the Jets and traded for veteran Derrick Nnadi.
Kansas City received Nnadi and a conditional 2027 seventh-round pick and sent the Jets a conditional 2027 sixth-round pick.
We’ve agreed to trade DT Derrick Nnadi to the Kansas City Chiefs, pending a physical.
📰: https://t.co/SQ8uBGbzru pic.twitter.com/q8ArDeJ1oA
— New York Jets (@nyjets) August 25, 2025
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If Kansas City had landed Briggs instead of the Jets, they wouldn’t have needed Nnadi. So the Jets would have been left empty-handed on the Briggs trade, and according to multiple beat reporters, Nnadi was expected to be released by the Jets ahead of final roster cuts.
Essentially, the assets the Jets gave up to acquire Briggs were made up for by the team’s decision to trade Nnadi back to the Chiefs. It paid for itself. That is next-level stuff from general manager Darren Mougey.
Jets Deserve a Tip of the Cap for Ability to Adapt
At the beginning of the offseason, the Jets decided to solve their defensive tackle depth issues with a bargain bin budget.
They signed multiple lesser-known veterans to cheap one-year deals. As the team progressed through training camp, new information was provided, and they acted upon it.
Just ahead of final roster cuts, Mougey struck a pair of trades to bring in two new defensive tackles.
The aforementioned Briggs and the Minnesota Vikings team captain and veteran starter, Harrison Phillips.
Nnadi was projected to be an important cog for the Jets’ defensive line. However, new information allowed the Jets to pivot.
An anonymous NFL scout told ESPN’s Rich Cimini that Nnadi “looked washed” in training camp.
“I mean, he just looked like he was done. The Jets ended up getting something for him, which was a minor miracle,” Cimini explained on the “Flight Deck” podcast.
An anonymous #NFL scout told ESPN’s Rich Cimini that defensive tackle Derrick Nnadi “looked washed” based on what he saw from him during training camp w/ the #Jets.
“I mean, he just looked like he was done. The Jets ended up getting something for him, which was a minor… pic.twitter.com/kltcbmvt2b
— Paul Andrew Esden Jr (@BoyGreen25) August 29, 2025
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