A lot has happened within the past 24 hours in the Jets organization.  As the trade deadline has come and gone, the NFL world is left shocked at the moves that the Jets just made, as Darren Mougey sends a clear message on what the future looks like for the New York Jets organization.  

Leading up to the trade deadline, a ton of players were rumored to be on the block for the Jets.  As the team struggled to produce wins, as they stand with a 1-7 record, Darren Mougey was open to making trades to stockpile on picks for upcoming NFL drafts.  Players speculated to be traded were Breece Hall, Quincy Williams, or Jermiane Johnson.  In the end, it was Michael Carter II, Quinnen Williams, and shockingly Sauce Gardner who saw the door.  The Sauce trade sent shock waves to the NFL, giving comparisons to the Micah Parsons trade for the impact that Sauce brings to a defense and the compensation given up.  

Many people give praise to the Jets as Darren Mougey is stockpiling draft picks that the Jets will use to improve the roster through the draft, with players they can develop from within.  Along with the draft picks, the Jets were able to snag under-the-radar players in WR Adonini Mitchell and John Metchie III, along with defensive tackle Mazi Smith.  Some bash the Jets as they traded away two of their elite defensive players in Sauce Gardner and Quinnen Williams, and it’s critical to keep as much elite talent on your roster.  Jets fans have a horrible feeling in their stomach knowing yet again another rebuild is upon us, but hopefully this is the final rebuild back to contention for the first time since 2010.  Aaron Glenn and Darren Mougey are trying to bring in their own players, and these trades signify that.  Let’s take a deeper look at the trades and how they affect the Jets in the long run.

Deadline Trades

Michael Carter II to the Eagles

The first trade of the deadline for the Jets is when they traded nickel cornerback Michael Carter II to the Philadelphia Eagles in exchange for WR John Metchie III and a swap of late-round 2027 draft picks.  Carter II agreed to waive a $5 million guaranteed injury bonus in his existing contract to make the move happen.  

The move makes sense for both the Jets and Carter II.  The team felt it was necessary to clear his contract off the books due to a decline in his performance and the coaching staff favoring Jarvis Brownlee Jr as one of the starting CBs over Carter II.  Now with Philadelphia, Carter II helps their cornerback room, giving them flexibility as he can play safety or corner.  It also makes it easy to shift Cooper DeJean to the outside spot, while Carter II can play in their nickel spot.  Former Jets GM Joe Douglass, who is back with the Eagles, for sure had a say in trading for Carter II.

The Jets added to the WR room by adding John Metchie III.  Coming to the Jets, Metchie III brings depth to the WR room and has an amazing skill set at WR with his route running and the ability to operate effectively in the short and intermediate areas of the field.  

Sauce Gardner to the Colts

This was a trade that no one was expecting.  Over the past couple of weeks, the Colts and Jets were discussing a trade for one of their cornerbacks, even Sauce Gardner.  It was said that Darren Mougey had to be wowed by the Colts with an offer that he couldn’t refuse.  Colts GM Chris Ballard ended up offering two first-round picks in the 2026 and 2027 drafts, along with WR AD Mitchell, and Mougey accepted.  

The Jets sent shock waves throughout the NFL as they shipped Gardner to the Colts, and as shocking as it seems, this trade makes sense for both teams.  Indianapolis sits currently at 7-2 as they are pushing for the Super Bowl run, while the Jets are looking towards the future by accumulating first-round draft picks to build the roster through the draft.  Gardner was a cornerstone for the franchise, and the Jets showed that by locking him up to a four-year $120 million deal.  Leading up to the deadline, the Jets were said to listen to any calls from teams, so no player was safe.  

Again, as much as it sucks to lose an elite player like Sauce, the Jets inherited two first-round picks, WR AD Mitchell, who has a ton of upside, and don’t have to worry about paying Sauce’s contract, as the Colts now inherit his contract.  His extension doesn’t kick in till after his fifth-year option in 2026.  

Quinnen Williams to the Cowboys

Once Sauce Gardner was traded, the question around the league became: “Who’s next?” Quinnen Williams would be the next player the Dallas Cowboys traded for. Big Q.  Dallas gets Quinnen Williams for a 2026 second-round pick, a 2027 first-round pick, and DT Mazi Smith.  

Williams has been with the Jets for the past six and a half seasons.  He’s seen more turnover than any Jet has ever seen.  The last of the Mike Maccagan regime, selected 3rd overall in the 2019 NFL Draft, Quinnen leaves the Jets as one of the best defensive players in franchise history.  Since entering the league in 2019, Quinnen has been named to the Pro Bowl three times, being named all-pro once in 2022.  He’s collected 40 sacks, which is sixth among DTs per Next Gen Stats.  He’s generated 281 QB pressures, ranking seventh among DTs. What’s fascinating is that 118 of those pressures have come under 2.5 seconds, which is ranked fourth in that span per NGS. 

According to Connor Hughes, Williams seemed to want out of NY for a long time now, but the Jets had stood their ground and were firm on not trading him, valuing him for his elite presence on the defensive front.  But Dallas came in with an offer the Jets couldn’t refuse as they’d continued to stockpile on picks, along with adding Mazi Smith to the defensive front, as Smith is known to be a dominant run stuffer.  Williams now goes to Dallas, where he is tasked with helping out a struggling Dallas defense as they are only 29th in the NFL in rush defense, allowing 142.2 yards per game.

Ja’Sir Taylor to the Jets

As Sauce Gardner leaves the CB room, the Jets add to it as they traded for Ja’Sir Taylor from the Chargers in exchange for a conditional 2028 7th-round pick.  Taylor brings versatility to the Jets as he can play either slot or outside cornerback.  While playing for the Chargers, he played in 57 games, making 11 starts.  As Gardner and Carter II leave the Jets, Taylor gives the Jets depth at the CB room, along with being a great special teamer.

Players Still a Jet

Jermaine Johnson, Breece Hall, Quincy Williams, and Garrett Wilson all remain on the current Jets roster, as there were rumors of them being moved at the deadline. 

Jordan Shultz, an hour before the deadline, reported that Breece Hall “wants to be out” as he was growing frustrated with seeing his teammates being traded.  Hall wound up not being traded as the Jets weren’t offered anything that was worth dealing Hall for.  The Chiefs offered a 4th-round pick, but the Jets held firm on them, wanting a 3rd-round pick for Hall.  Hall later told reporters he didn’t request a trade.