The Jets’ 1-3 start has changed the conversation fast. After three straight losses, the early-season optimism has given way to a harder question: if this keeps going, who on this roster could be on the move before the trade deadline?
New York probably isn’t positioned for another blockbuster theft like the Sauce Gardner deal, mostly because so much of the roster is built around veterans on short-term contracts. That limits the pool. But it also means the few players with real trade value could draw attention if the losses pile up.
At the top of that list is edge rusher Will McDonald IV. Even with the pass rush struggling around him, McDonald still hasn’t shown enough to look like a core piece for the long haul.
The move to a 3-4 front and more favorable game scripts was supposed to help him take off, but he still looks like the same player. He can flash in a big way, then disappear for weeks.
Since the win against Tennessee in Week 1, McDonald has had two pressures. His improvement against the run, while noticeable from a previously league-worst level, doesn’t make up for the inconsistency.
Brandon Stephens is another name worth watching. He’s bounced back from an uneven 2025 with a strong enough start to 2026 that he’s no longer just a placeholder.
That matters, because the Jets’ future at corner appears to be centered on Azareye'h Thomas and rookie D'Angelo Ponds. If the season keeps sliding, the team could decide the best move is to keep developing the younger corners and cash in on Stephens while he still has value.
That would be a big turn from where he stood after his final season in Baltimore and his rocky arrival with this fanbase.
Then there’s Harrison Phillips. He gives the Jets leadership and presence in the locker room, but the Week 4 loss to Chicago made it feel like New York may already have gotten most of what it can out of him.
His pass-rush impact has been limited, and now even the run defense is slipping. For a team willing to listen, Phillips could make sense as a depth addition, especially in a scheme that fits him better.
A late Day 3 pick might be enough to get something done.
Phillips is the kind of respected veteran who could still help a contender. If the Jets keep losing, though, the deadline could force some uncomfortable decisions about who stays and who gets shipped out.
In Other News...
Jets May Finally Get WR Help But One Question Still Looms
The Jets receiver room may be getting a little healthier soon, which comes as welcome news for an offense that has had to navigate injuries to key pass-catchers. Tim Patrick has now completed the required four-game absence and is eligible to return to practice, giving the team at least a chance to add some experienced help back into the mix after a stretch of uncertainty.
Omar Cooper Jr. is still a longer wait, since he remains on injured reserve and has to sit out at least one more game before his practice window can open. So while the roster picture is beginning to brighten at receiver, the bigger question for the Jets is how quickly that help can actually show up on the field, and whether Patrick will be ready to contribute right away once he ramps up. [Read more 🡒]
Jets Opponent Suddenly Has A Quarterback Issue To Sort Out
The Browns have opened the clock on a pair of injured-reserve returns, designating quarterback Dillon Gabriel and defensive tackle Kalia Davis to come back to practice. Cleveland now has 21 days to decide whether either player gets activated to the active roster, a timeline that adds another layer to a quarterback room already worth watching from afar.
Gabriels return is the more interesting subplot for Jets watchers because it forces Cleveland to sort out where he fits behind Deshaun Watson and backup Shedeur Sanders. Even before the Browns make a decision, the move hints at more quarterback evaluation work ahead, and any shuffle there is the kind of thing opponents keep an eye on as they prepare for a game plan. [Read more 🡒]
Jets Fans Just Got An Uncomfortable New QB Option
The Jets quarterback picture already has a few moving parts, and now another one has been dropped into the mix. NFL analyst Kristopher Knox of Bleacher Report recently floated New York as a possible trade destination for San Francisco backup Mac Jones, putting a concrete price on the idea with a conditional 2027 second-round pick.
Jones has already bounced from the Patriots to the Jaguars to the 49ers, and he is currently sitting behind Brock Purdy in San Francisco. For the Jets, it is another reminder that the search for insulation behind Geno Smith is not necessarily finished, even with rookie Cade Klubnik in the building after being drafted in 2026 and getting preseason reps. [Read more 🡒]