Jets trade John Franklin-Myers for sixth-round NFL draft pick in another swap with Broncos

The Jets to Denver pipeline is flowing.

Gang Green traded John Franklin-Myers to the Broncos on Saturday in exchange for a 2026 sixth-round pick.

The trade comes less than a week after the Jets traded quarterback Zach Wilson to the Broncos.

Franklin-Myers, 27, had been with the Jets since 2019 when the team claimed him off waivers from the Rams.

He started 52 games over the past four seasons.

He had 3 ½ sacks last season and 33 tackles.

He has a combined 17 ½ sacks over the past four years.

This was a financial decision for the Jets. Franklin-Myers was set to make $13.3 million in base salary in 2024 and carry a salary cap number of $16.4 million.

By trading him, the Jets cleared $7.3 million in cap space and they save the cash that he was due this season.

He leaves behind a dead money charge of $9 million.

After the team traded for Haason Reddick and his $15 million salary cap number, the Jets felt they had to move on from Franklin-Myers.

They gave Franklin-Myers and his agent permission to seek a trade several weeks ago and it came to fruition Saturday.

“That was a difficult one,” Douglas said. “When we made the trade for Haason, we knew it was going to be next to impossible to keep JFM at his salary.”

ESPN reported that Franklin-Myers agreed to a new two-year, $15 million contract with the Broncos that includes $10 million guaranteed.

Douglas said the gap was too wide for the Jets to renegotiate his deal.

“Denver got a hell of a player,” Douglas said.

Jets coach Robert Saleh cited the loss of Franklin-Myers’ leadership as tough for the defense to deal with.

“It’s going to be tough,” Saleh said. “We love the guys that we have in our room. Obviously, JFM with his leadership and all that stuff, it’s going to be sorely missed.”

The departure of Franklin-Myers could lead to more playing time for Will McDonald, the team’s first-round pick from a year ago.