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With less than a week to go before the NFL’s trade deadline on Oct. 31, the Jets are in an interesting spot.
They are 3-3. They have lost two of their top players in quarterback Aaron Rodgers and offensive lineman Alijah Vera-Tucker. They have looked like contenders at times (beating the Eagles) and pretenders at others (losing to the Patriots).
So, what should general manager Joe Douglas do at the deadline?
Well, the market might dictate what Douglas can do. According to people around the league, it does not sound as if any big names will be moved by Tuesday.
For those Jets fans dreaming of Davante Adams coming to New York, keep dreaming. For those who were trying to speak a Kirk Cousins trade into existence a few weeks ago, get help.
The reality is if the Jets do make a move by Tuesday, it likely will be adding depth along the offensive line or at wide receiver. Don’t expect a major splash move.
Here is an overview of what the Jets’ plans could look like at the trade deadline based on conversations with people inside and outside the organization:
What is the Jets’ biggest need?
The Jets could use some reinforcements at tackle after losing Vera-Tucker. Duane Brown is expected to return. He is eligible to come off IR this week. But the Jets are still thin.
Brown is 38 and has gotten injured in each of the past two years. Mekhi Becton has played well, but he has suffered knee injuries in each of the past two seasons and was limping badly in the game against the Broncos this month. Max Mitchell played well against the Eagles, but the Jets don’t know if they can rely on him long-term.
The problem for the Jets is good offensive linemen are hard to find. Have you watched an NFL game this year? Outside of the Eagles, 49ers, Lions and Browns, there are not many good offensive lines. That means there is not of surplus of offensive linemen to trade.
The Jets could send a late-round pick if there is a tackle out there they like, but they likely can find someone on the street or off of someone’s practice squad who would be just as good and would not cost them any draft capital.
What else do they need?
The Jets feel as if they are one wide receiver short of having a strong group. Garrett Wilson is a star and Allen Lazard is a solid receiver, but they really could use a better No. 2 option. Again, the problem is: Who is out there?
There has been plenty of talk about the Broncos trading away Jerry Jeudy or Courtland Sutton. Jeudy would fit the bill of what the Jets are looking for, and offensive coordinator Nathaniel Hackett worked with him last year in Denver.
The problem is the asking price. Sources said the price starts with a second-round pick plus a player. The Jets are not doing that.
Could the price drop before Tuesday? Maybe, but the Broncos just won their second game of the season and may be less inclined to have a fire sale than they were a few weeks ago.
The other name you hear a lot is Raiders slot receiver Hunter Renfrow. He is available, but the Jets are not looking to add a slot receiver. They just got rid of one in Mecole Hardman and they are planning to increase the role of rookie Xavier Gipson. They also have Randall Cobb at the position, though he has been underwhelming. Still, the Jets are not looking to acquire a slot.
Bears receiver Darnell Mooney was mentioned as a trade possibility a few weeks ago, but it sounds as if the Bears are not looking to deal him after trading another receiver, Chase Claypool.
As for Adams, there is no way the Raiders are trading him with coach Josh McDaniels and GM Dave Ziegler feeling pressure to win now.
What players could the Jets trade?
For most of his time with the Jets, Douglas has been a seller at the deadline. Most years, that has made sense because the Jets were rebuilding and he was trying to acquire draft capital.
Douglas won’t be looking to just unload players this year if they could still be useful.
That is why I don’t think running back Dalvin Cook will be dealt. He has been disappointing this season, averaging just 2.8 yards per carry, and has seen his role reduced with Breece Hall thriving. I don’t think Douglas would hang up the phone if a team called about Cook, but I also can’t see Douglas giving Cook away.
The Jets learned about their running back depth last season when Hall tore his ACL. They traded for James Robinson and played Michael Carter and Bam Knight. None of it worked. I think that will be in the back of Douglas’ mind and he’ll hold onto Cook as an insurance policy if Hall goes down.
Edge rusher Carl Lawson has become expendable with the emergences of Jermaine Johnson and Bryce Huff. He is behind those two and John Frankiln-Myers on the depth chart, and rookie Will McDonald will probably leapfrog him soon. Lawson has not looked like the same player this season after dealing with a back injury in training camp. He has been inactive for two games and has been reduced to a minor role.
With all of that as a backdrop, who is going to trade for him? He still is owed $3.5 million this season. That’s a lot to play for a guy who has been so underwhelming that he is on the trade block. The only possibility seems to be if a team strikes out on a big-ticket edge rusher such as the Vikings’ Danielle Hunter and would be willing to take Lawson as a consolation prize.
Can the Jets trade their first-round pick?
The Jets’ first-round pick technically is in limbo because it was part of the Rodgers trade.
Remember: The Packers get the Jets’ 2024 first-round pick if Rodgers plays more than 65 percent of the snaps this year. It is a second-round pick if Rodgers plays less than that threshold. Though it appears clear Rodgers will not hit that mark this year even if he does return, the Packers obviously want to see that actually happen before waving goodbye to the first-round pick.
The Jets could trade the pick, but they would have to include language that something else would be traded if somehow they end up owing the first-round pick to the Packers.
The likelihood, though, is there will be no player available at the deadline who would make Douglas even consider trading this kind of draft capital.
Was Kirk Cousins ever a real possibility?
No.
When fans and media members evaluate the job a GM does, the focus usually falls on draft picks and high-priced free-agent signings.
Douglas has a mixed record in those two categories. But he has thrived at finding under-the-radar players as undrafted free agents or through waiver claims.
The Jets defense is a testament to the work done by Douglas and his staff at finding some hidden gems. You could argue Huff and Quincy Williams have been the Jets’ best defensive players. Huff was an undrafted free agent, and Williams was claimed off waivers after the Jaguars cut him.
Franklin-Myers (waiver claim) and Tony Adams (undrafted free agent) also have been major players on the Jets defense this year.
On offense and special teams, Gipson is making an impact as an undrafted free agent.
Williams, Adams and Gipson have all come up with huge plays in the Jets’ three victories. Gipson returned the punt for a touchdown to beat the Bills in overtime. Williams had the strip-sack of Russell Wilson that led to Bryce Hall’s game-sealing touchdown against the Broncos. Adams had the interception of Jalen Hurts to set up the go-ahead score against the Eagles.
Douglas has done a nice job finding talent others have overloooked.
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Quinnen Williams notched his first career interception in the Jets’ last game against the Eagles. Williams is better known for pressuring the quarterback.
He ranks 18th in Jets history with 28 career sacks. He is within shouting distance of the top 10 and might be able to crack it next year. Here is the top 20:
- Mark Gastineau (1979-88): 107.5 sacks
- Joe Klecko (1977-87): 78 sacks
- Shaun Ellis (2000-10): 72.5 sacks
- Gerry Philbin (1964-72): 65 sacks
- Verlon Biggs (1965-70): 58.5 sacks
- John Abraham (2000-05): 53.5 sacks
- Mo Lewis (1991-2003): 52.5 sacks
- Calvin Pace (2008-15): 46 sacks
- Muhammad Wilkerson (2011-17): 44.5 sacks
- Marty Lyons (1979-89) 43 sacks
T-11. Larry Grantham (1960-72): 38.5 sacks
T-11. John Elliott (1967-73): 38.5 sacks
- Marvin Washington (1989-96): 37.5 sacks
- David Harris (2007-16): 35 sacks
- Jeff Lageman (1989-94): 34.5 sacks
- Bryan Thomas (2000-12): 33.5 sacks
- Mark Lomas (1970-74): 31 sacks
T-18. Quinnen Williams (2019-present): 28 sacks
T-18. Dennis Byrd (1989-92): 28 sacks
- Jordan Jenkins (2016-20): 22.5 sacks
Source: Pro Football Reference (sacks were not official prior to 1982, but the website features pre-1982 sack totals based on research)