The New York Jets are rebuilding after the group’s dream of an Aaron Rodgers-led championship run led to a nightmare. The workforce changed its basic supervisor, head coach, coordinators and quarterback since final 12 months’s season opener.
Aaron Glenn is on the helm now, operating the group with first-time GM Darren Mougey. And with new administration in cost, the workforce can go in any variety of instructions. There are commerce targets the Jets might pursue, an apparent commerce New York might make and a possible deadline deal.
However these are two sneaky trades the workforce might make heading into coaching camp. Whereas neither transfer would lead to a greater soccer workforce this season, and neither is essentially really useful, they each might doubtlessly assist New York compete down the street.
Would the Jets actually commerce Quincy Williams?
If Glenn’s mission is to construct tradition with the Jets, it will appear ill-advised to maneuver on from Quincy Williams. The previous first-team All-Professional is the sort of participant you’d need as the inspiration of your tradition rebuild.
Williams is a robust veteran presence within the locker room. That is notably vital after the Jets launched C.J. Mosely, who had taken on a management position throughout his six seasons with New York.
The workforce went from having one of many NFL’s oldest rosters final season to one of many youngest in 2025. Whereas Glenn’s youth motion is the best course for a franchise that’s removed from championship caliber, the Jets nonetheless want veteran leaders. Williams gives that presence for the workforce, and that’s saying nothing of his precise on-field worth.
The seventh-year professional is among the best linebackers in soccer when at his greatest, evidenced by his glorious 2023 marketing campaign. Regardless of a dip in manufacturing final season, Williams performs elite go protection and has the motor and sideline-to-sideline velocity to trace down opponents within the open area.
In an ideal world, Quincy would keep in New York along with his youthful brother Quinnen. Nonetheless, he’s coming into the ultimate season of a three-year, $18 million contract he signed with the workforce in 2023.
The Jets simply inked fellow linebacker Jamien Sherwood to a three-year, $45 million extension after he led the league in solo tackles throughout his first season as a starter. Moreover, New York is engaged on long run extensions for Sauce Gardner and Garrett Wilson after exercising their fifth-year choices.
The workforce will spend large cash on their standout cornerback and wideout. However the Jets even have large choices to make on proper guard Alijah Vera-Tucker and operating again Breece Corridor, who’re each coming into the ultimate 12 months of their rookie offers.
If the Jets resolve there isn’t sufficient to go round or that they don’t wish to make investments that closely within the place, Williams would make for a sneaky commerce heading into coaching camp. He might instantly enhance a contender’s linebacker room and return useful draft capital to the Jets, who could have a watch on Texas LB Anthony Hill Jr in 2026.
Transfer Michael Carter II to a competitor?
The Jets’ secondary has been the workforce’s greatest energy over the past three seasons. New York has boasted a prime 4 go protection annually since drafting Sauce Gardner in 2022. After all, that’s the identical 12 months the workforce added veteran cornerback D.J. Reed.
The duo was dynamic for New York, serving to key a turnaround that noticed the workforce go from having the NFL’s worst general protection in 2021 to the fourth-best unit in 2022 (and third-best in 2023 and 2024). Whereas Gardner and Reed received the eye, there was one other member of the group.
Michael Carter II has been the Jets’ unsung hero within the secondary. A fifth-round draft decide in 2021, Carter has developed into a robust slot cornerback. Whereas accidents and organizational dysfunction led to a down 12 months in 2024, Carter had beforehand earned a prime 25 grade amongst corners in 2022 and completed inside the highest 20 in 2023, per PFF.
After letting Reed stroll in free company this offseason, the Jets signed former Baltimore Ravens defensive again Brandon Stephens to a $36 million contract. Though Glenn and new defensive coordinator Steve Wilks might assist elevate Stephens’ recreation, the swap most certainly finally ends up as a downgrade for the Jets.
Gardner and Carter will return for New York however the workforce additionally added Azareye’h Thomas to the secondary within the 2025 draft. The previous Florida State standout nook was thought of a prime prospect initially of the 12 months. Nonetheless, he fell to the third spherical, the place the Jets chosen him with the 73rd general decide.
With Stephens locked into an out of doors cornerback position reverse Gardner and Carter taking part in nickelback, the rookie is the odd man out. But when the Jets consider Thomas is prepared for vital taking part in time, the workforce might deal Carter.
New York prolonged the fifth-year veteran in 2024, making Carter the NFL’s highest-paid slot nook with a three-year, $30.75 million deal. There’s a possible out in his contract following the 2025 season. After that, his cap hit rises to $12.25 million in 2026.
Buying and selling Carter would assist cut back the workforce’s wage cap burden when New York will want the house for the upcoming Gardner/Wilson extensions. However shifting him must also convey again strong draft capital for the rebuilding workforce.
Whereas preserving Carter would probably assist the Jets play higher in 2025, the workforce isn’t breaking its 14-year postseason drought with or with out him. And it’s potential {that a} highly-paid slot nook will not be a luxurious {that a} rebuilding workforce can afford. Nonetheless, there are a variety of groups that may be very curious about including Carter to the roster.
Nonetheless, it will be troublesome to look at the Jets go from main the league in Michael Carters in 2023 to having none in 2025.
Bonus sneaky Jets commerce
Alijah Vera-Tucker is undeniably a wonderful guard. The Jets took him 14th general in 2021 and he’s been an elite and versatile offensive lineman over his four-year profession. Nonetheless, Vera-Tucker has struggled with accidents since coming into the NFL.
The 26-year-old professional has missed 25 of 68 potential video games. And now he’s coming into the ultimate 12 months of his rookie deal after the Jets picked up his fifth-year possibility. So the workforce should resolve if AVT is a part of its imaginative and prescient for the long run.
It appears counterproductive to mess with the offensive line after investing a lot within the group. New York spent first-round picks on O-lineman in 2021 (AVT), 2024 (Olu Fashanu) and 2025 (Armand Membou) in addition to a second-rounder in 2023 on middle Joe Tippmann.
Nonetheless, if the Jets conclude that they gained’t prolong Vera-Tucker, he can be an enormous commerce chip for the workforce. Loads of GMs can be calling Mougey up concerning the large proper guard.