Latest On Jets’ Trade Deadline Approach

Will McDonald continues to come up as a potential option, with SNY’s Connor Hughes labeling the fourth-year edge rusher a prime trade candidate. Seeing his work rate scaled down in Aaron Glenn’s second season, McDonald may not be too difficult to pry away. The Jets have reduced McDonald to a backup role, and his usage rate went from 66% (his playing time in 2024 and ’25) to 46% this season.

The Jets protected McDonald at last year’s deadline, being more willing to trade Jermaine Johnson (whom they ultimately did move this February), and they exercised his fifth-year option. As a result, McDonald is due a guaranteed $13.75MM in 2027. That is not an unreasonable salary for a starting pass rusher by any means, and McDonald combined for 18.5 sacks from 2024-25. Interest should emerge, though recent Jets injuries could affect the situation, per ESPN.com’s Rich Cimini.

Glenn’s seat is certainly warm, and the prospect of the coach wanting to retain productive players could enter the equation. More assured of being with the team when a three-first-rounder 2027 draft kicks off, GM Darren Mougey will have some big-picture decisions to make soon. The Jets should be prepared to sell, regardless of Glenn’s status, but this might not be the kind of explosive deadline 2025’s brought for the team.

Garrett Wilson should not be expected to move, with Hughes indicating his popularity among coaches and ownership would require a push on the player’s part to happen. That said, an exec whose team is in the wide receiver market views Wilson (per Casino Guru News’ Jason La Canfora) as a player who could be obtained at the deadline.

The Jets dealt away Gardner months after authorizing a then-record-setting cornerback contract. They paid Wilson the same week, giving him a four-year deal worth $130MM. Wilson saw $24.5MM of his 2027 compensation guarantee this past March, and $27.18MM of his 2028 pay will lock in on Day 5 of the 2027 league year. That probably would not be a big issue for an acquiring team, given Wilson’s talent. But the Jets would be hit with nearly $50MM in dead money in 2027 were they to make this move, per OverTheCap. That is a more punitive figure than when the team sold the Gardner contract.

Nahshon Wright and Andre Cisco, DBs who have gone from starters to backups, may be pieces to monitor before the November 10 deadline, Cimini adds. Wright is on a one-year, $3.5MM deal; Cisco is tied to a one-year pact worth $2.5MM.