Copyright New York Daily News
The Jets have already begun making moves ahead of Tuesday’s 4 p.m. NFL trade deadline. On Wednesday, Gang Green shipped cornerback Michael Carter II and a 2027 seventh-round pick to Philadelphia in exchange for wide receiver John Metchie III and a 2027 sixth-round pick. Now, many are wondering who could potentially be the next Jets players to be moved. At 1-7, the Jets could be sellers at the trade deadline, as their playoff drought will extend to 15 seasons barring a miracle finish. But coach Aaron Glenn says just because the Jets answer the phone doesn’t mean they will make trades. “Listen, everybody listens, but that doesn’t mean that you act on anything,” Glenn said. “You know, when someone calls, you listen, but actions speaks louder than words, you know, so I will just put it like that.” It isn’t expected to be a fire sale in Florham Park. Glenn is trying to establish a culture of winning, and that’s difficult to do if the Jets strip the roster down to its bare bones. With this in mind, here are the Jets players who could be moved by the Tuesday deadline. RB BREECE HALL There has been a lot of speculation about whether Hall will be dealt. Rumors of him being traded began circulating during the 2025 NFL Draft and have persisted throughout the season. Hall, 24, will be a free agent following the season, and there are a few teams that could use running back help for their run towards the playoffs. He is coming off his best game of the season after rushing for 133 yards and two rushing touchdowns against the Bengals. Hall also threw the game-winning TD to tight end Mason Taylor on a halfback option pass. The conundrum is whether the Jets should move on from Hall? Backup running back Braelon Allen could be done for the year after he had knee surgery. The Jets also already lack offensive weapons with Hall on the roster. Without him, that would put even more pressure on wide receiver Garrett Wilson when he returns from a knee injury that’s kept him out of the previous two games. The only other running backs on the Jets roster are Isaiah Davis, Khalil Herbert and Kene Nwangwu. In eight games, Hall has 581 rushing yards and 759 total yards from scrimmage. Unless a team offers multiple picks or a third-rounder for Hall, the Jets should hold on to him. The Jets could receive a compensatory pick for Hall, but that’s not a given. Gang Green is expected to be big spenders in free agency in 2026, which would offset the loss of Hall and prevent the team from receiving an extra draft pick. Hall has said on various occasions that he wants to remain with the Jets. Whether the Jets trade Hall is really a jump ball at this point, but if I had to guess, he will remain with the team past the deadline. EDGE JERMAINE JOHNSON Johnson, 26, said the Jets gave him assurance they wouldn’t trade him, so moving the pass rusher seems unlikely. He is under contract through the 2026 season after the Jets exercised his fifth-year option during the spring. In five games this season, Johnson has 19 tackles and one sack after returning from a season-ending Achilles injury. Johnson is another player who seems to want to be in the Green and White, so the Jets not only need to hold onto him, but they should give him a team-friendly extension. EDGE WILL MCDONALD McDonald, 26, has been one of the most disappointing players this season. He registered 10.5 sacks last year, but has struggled in run defense and, at times, even in getting to the quarterback. McDonald went six consecutive weeks without recording a sack before Sunday’s victory against the Bengals. The Jets will have to decide whether to exercise McDonald’s fifth-year option after this year. If Glenn and Jets general manager Darren Mougey do not see him in their long-term plans, they could ultimately decide to trade McDonald. LB QUINCY WILLIAMS Out of all the Jets players rumored to be on the trading block, Williams is the one most likely to be gone. He is 29 years old and in the final year of his contract. Also, the Jets signed Jamien Sherwood to a three-year, $45 million deal last spring, so Williams appears to be the odd man out in the linebacking corps. But what could the Jets get for Williams? Unless it is a fourth-round pick, it’s probably best to play out the string and let Williams walk in free agency. DT QUINNEN WILLIAMS Trading Williams could be something to watch during the offseason, but it wouldn’t make sense to move him midseason. He is still one of the best players on the team and trading Williams would essentially be waving the white flag for a Jets defense that has already been a massive disappointment most of this season. Williams, 28, has two years remaining on his contract. However, he has just $5 million of guaranteed money remaining and could be looking for one last big payday from the Jets. If the Jets are hesitant to give Williams a large contract, they could trade him and gain more draft capital for the 2026 NFL Draft. The Jets have multiple needs, and trading Williams could help them acquire young talent and also provide more weapons for their future quarterback. There’s also a belief that Williams could welcome a change of scenery. He has been with the Jets since 2019, and they have a 33-75 record during that time, with no playoff appearances. But the Jets would get more for Williams if they waited to trade him next offseason, so stay tuned.
