Joseph Maiorana-Imagn Images

Jets Star Issues Message Of Confidence After Tuesday's Wild Trades

Originally posted on The Spun | By Andrew Gould | Last updated Nov 4, 2025 7:36 PM ET

The New York Jets oversaw a day of significant turmoil, moving Sauce Gardner and Quinnen Williams before Tuesday's deadline. A defensive player who stayed reacted to the bombshell moves.

New York traded Gardner to the Indianapolis Colts and Williams to the Dallas Cowboys, receiving two players (Adonai Mitchell, Mazi Smith), three first-round draft picks, and a second-round pick. Speculation surfaced that Jermaine Johnson II could follow his star teammates out the door, but the Jets kept the Pro Bowl linebacker.

Johnson posted GIFs to convey his shock and sadness when the Jets traded Gardner and Williams. After the 4 p.m. ET deadline passed with him staying in New York, the 26-year-old supported the team in a message posted on social media.

"I’d be lying if I said I was happy my brothers are gone because I’m not, I’m sick," Johnson wrote. "But, I believe strongly in the organization, staff and my other brothers in the locker room. I said when I got drafted I wanted to be the reason or part of the reason this thing gets changed for the better and that’s going to continue to be my outlook. I love this team and this fan base and y’all will continue to get my all, my absolute best on and off the field. Let’s look onward and upward because better things are coming and I give my word on that. Go Jets always."

Jets make massive trades

EAST RUTHERFORD, NJ - DECEMBER 22: Quinnen Williams #95 of the New York Jets gets set against the Jacksonville Jaguars at MetLife Stadium on December 22, 2022 in East Rutherford, New Jersey. (Photo by Cooper Neill/Getty Images)Cooper Neill/Getty Images

The Jets stole the headlines Tuesday by trading two young All-Pros, each a former top-five draft pick. They'll seek a clean slate without Gardner and Williams.

New York faced no urgency to make those bold moves. Gardner signed a four-year extension this summer, and Williams remained under contract through 2027.

Gang Green posted a top-five defense in each of the last three seasons, but they plummeted to 20th during a highly disappointing 1-7 start to 2025. They allowed 27.5 points per game before their Week 9 bye.

Johnson is now one of the few cornerstones remaining to keep the depleted unit afloat. The No. 22 pick from 2022 has returned from a torn Achilles to record 19 tackles and a sack in five games this season.

His teammates may not share the same optimism. NFL insider Jordan Schultz reported before the deadline that Breece Hall wanted a trade. The running back, who is staying put, also wrote that the Gardner and Williams trades made him feel "sick" in a since-deleted tweet.

This article first appeared on The Spun and was syndicated with permission.

More must-reads: