The New York Jets’ struggles have been well-documented in this 2025 season. Standing at 1-7 right now, the Jets are preparing to be home for the playoffs for an astonishing 15th consecutive season.
As the Tuesday trade deadline approached, the consensus thought was that maybe they would trade a few smaller pieces, with the marquee name being Breece Hall involved in many mock trades.
With just hours left before the trade deadline, the Jets made two franchise-altering trades. The Jets traded All-Pro Sauce Gardner to the Indianapolis Colts. In return, the Jets received two first round picks (one in ‘26 one in ‘27) and young wide receiver Adonai Mitchell. Two first-rounders is an incredible price, even for a player of Gardner’s caliber.
Brookdale student and big-time Jets fan, Anthony Capuano, had some feelings on this trade. “I personally don’t think the Sauce trade is bad. I think the Jets won the trade overall just because of the value they got back. But Sauce was one of my favorite players, and to lose him really sucked.
“With the extra first-round picks, I hope the Jets can help boost their key pieces on defense or somehow find a QB, which they haven’t been able to do,” Capuano said. “Not crazy excited about the Adonai Mitchell trade just because I haven’t seen him too much, but he was a former second round pick last year, so I do hope he gets into the offense, and we don’t just ignore him.”
This move sent shock waves through the NFL, but the Jets were not done.
The Jets traded three-time Pro Bowl player Quinnen Williams to the Dallas Cowboys. The Cowboys, who were desperate for defense, sent a haul for the Jets’ star. A 2026 second-round pick, a 2027 first-round pick, and former first-rounder defensive tackle Mazi Smith. A rather grand haul for a player who is on pace for his worst season, but his talent is undeniable.
Breece Hall, who was the most likely to get traded, ended up capping the day as a New York Jet rather surprisingly. A trade with the Kansas City Chiefs was discussed for the young running back, but the Chiefs would only offer a fourth-round pick while the Jets wanted at minimum a third-round pick.
The Jets netted the king’s ransom for two star players. Certainly, if they can lose with Gardner and Williams, they can do the same without them. New York also showed that they are identifying young talent when trading with other teams, landing Mitchell and Smith, which should not be lost sight of. These are two young former highly touted players that may just need a change of scenery to hit their high ceilings.
Time will tell who won these trades, but if the Jets end up looking back on these moves favorably, it will be because they do something they haven’t done, and that is drafting well.
