At 0-7, the Jets are an obvious seller ahead of the November 4 trade deadline. A bunch of Joe Douglas-era acquisitions have come up as potential pieces to be moved, however the team is sitting tight in the interim.
Breece Hall, Jermaine Johnson, Michael Carter II, Allen Lazard and even the injured Alijah Vera-Tucker have come up as trade chips. We are able to add Will McDonald and Quincy Williams, in response to veteran insider Jordan Schultz, who notes the third-year defensive end and seventh-year linebacker are amongst those buyers are keeping track of presently.
Determining which players are in good standing with Aaron Glenn and GM Darren Mougey will probably be a part of this Jets process ahead of the deadline, and McDonald might be certainly one of the untouchables for the team. The Jets have the 2023 first-rounder signed through 2026, they usually can exercise his fifth-year option to maneuver the rookie contract through 2027. That might lead the Jets to set a high price, which the team has been doing with other assets as well.
The Jets look to be more willing to part with Johnson than McDonald, in response to ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler. Recent York picking up Johnson’s fifth-year option moved his contract yr to 2026, but unlike fellow 2022 first-round picks Garrett Wilson and Sauce Gardner, the team didn’t extend the fourth-year defensive end. That leaves Johnson on uncertain terrain alongside Carter, whom Fowler adds is drawing interest despite not living as much as his eight-figure-per-year contract.
Johnson’s 2026 option salary ($13.41MM) is fully guaranteed, providing a complication for teams. Having suffered an Achilles tear in September 2024 also dings Johnson’s stock. While he has recovered, three game absences have taken place as well. That stands to lower Johnson’s price tag — during a season by which he has began with one sack and just two QB hits — and it is going to be interesting to see if the Jets seriously consider selling low. Keeping Johnson through 2026 and hoping he boosts his value ahead of a future trade will be the smarter play, though Fowler adds he has drawn some trade interest.
Viewed as a Broderick Jones consolation prize within the ’23 first round, McDonald didn’t play much as a rookie. But he broke through in 2024, registering 10.5 sacks and 24 QB hits. This season, McDonald has just two QB drops — each got here in Week 1.
The Iowa State alum would still stand to generate extensive interest, as a low-cost 2026 salary is in place ahead of a possible option season. The Jets, who let Bryce Huff walk in free agency last yr before trading John Franklin-Myers, would not have much of note behind these two rushers. While moving Douglas-years pieces is probably going, scanning elsewhere on their roster could also be needed to seek out a move.
Williams stays within the strange position of seeing a less completed player (Jamien Sherwood) lap him on the contract front. The Jets re-signed the special-teamer-turned-starter to a three-year, $45MM deal, doing so while not extending Williams, who’s in the ultimate season of a three-year, $18MM pact. Although Gang Green added incentives to Williams’ deal, he was deemed a better priority by the Douglas-Robert Saleh regime than this one. Williams can also be on IR with a shoulder injury, clouding his trade value.
A former first-team All-Pro, Williams is attached to a $6.5MM base salary. An acquiring team would want to choose up greater than $3MM if the Jets dangle Williams closer to the deadline. Carter has come up as a trade piece as well, because the slot cornerback isn’t viewed as a long-term a part of this equation any longer.
Prolonged on a three-year, $30.75MM pact in September 2024, Carter has battled injuries and shaky play since. The Jets also traded for Jarvis Brownlee this season and have given him some slot work. Carter, who’s on only a $1.7MM base salary for 2025, has drawn some interest, per Fowler. Two former Jets defensive leaders — Saleh (49ers) and Jeff Ulbrich — have landed DC jobs elsewhere, making for potential suits.
A further $4.1MM of Carter’s 2026 money becomes guaranteed on Day 5 of the 2026 league yr, giving an acquiring team some flexibility. Considering the Jets have paid Gardner and authorized a $12MM-per-year Brandon Stephens deal, it might stand to reason they’d be desirous to get off the Carter contract before the deadline.