The New York Jets made the biggest splash of Tuesday’s NFL trade deadline, trading two key pieces from their once-great defense and diving headfirst into yet another rebuild.
In trading
former All-Pros Sauce Gardner and Quinnen Williams, the Jets effectively pulled the plug on a defense that allowed the third-fewest points in the NFL just last season. While losing two players of such caliber will sting for Jets fans, they should take comfort in the fact that they received a huge haul of compensation to help turn their sinking ship around.
Where the Jets stand after their eye-opening fire sale
Gardner, a two-time first-team All-Pro, is less than four months removed from agreeing to a four-year, $120.4 million extension with the Jets, but had seen his play drop considerably under head coach Aaron Glenn’s defense. Since breaking into the league with a 62.7 passer rating allowed in 2022, Gardner has seen that number rise for three straight seasons before topping out at 98.1 in 2025. It is unwise for a team of the Jets’ caliber to pay top dollar for any cornerback, and paying $30 million for someone putting up Gardner’s level of production is downright malpractice.
