The New York Jets chose on Sunday not to keep a Kansas City fan-favorite away from the Chiefs Kingdom for long.
In a move that’ll free up spending money for a Jets front office that spent big on extensions for Sauce Gardner and Garrett Wilson this offseason, New York is dealing Derrick Nnadi back to the Chiefs for a 2027 draft-pick swap. Kansas City will also receive a conditional seventh-round pick in exchange for a conditional sixth-round selection
“Nnadi’s one-year deal with New York contained minimal guarantees and the Jets are only reportedly taking on $168,000 as a result of this trade. It will free up just over $1 million in cap space ahead of the 2025 season as well,” CBS Sports’ Brad Crawford wrote.
As ESPN’s Nate Taylor reported, Nnadi would’ve likely been released if the Jets didn’t find a suitable swap.
“Nnadi was made available when it became clear over the past few days that he was unlikely to make the Jets’ roster. He played 66 defensive snaps in the preseason and made five tackles. The additions of defensive tackles Harrison Phillips and Jowon Briggs, both acquired last week in trades, made Nnadi expendable,” Taylor wrote.
The Virginia Beach native gets another chance in a locker room that he won three Super Bowls with. New York gets value out of a transaction that would’ve otherwise been a typical cut day release.
It’s a win for the Jets, but it remains to be seen if Nnadi can still contribute what he used to in Kansas City.
There’s a reason he wasn’t re-signed when the Chiefs had the chance.
