Jets Close Trade Deadline with Two Major Deals
Jets Trade Sauce Gardner & Quinnen Williams for #1 Picks
Frank Coyle/ Head scout & Staff
Nov. 4
Trade Deadline ends for 2025 at 4:00 p.m. est
Nov. 5
Players with at least four previous pension-credited seasons are subject to the waiver system for the remainder of the regular season and postseason.
March 11, 2026
The 2026 League Year and Free agency signing period begins at 4:00 p.m. ET.
Trading period for 2026 begins at 4:00 p.m. ET, after expiration of all 2025 contracts
Jets Close Trade Deadline with Two Major Deals
The NFL trade deadline closed with a bang as the NY Jets took the spotlight with two major deals for their top defensive players. They traded corner Sauce Gardner to the Colts for two #1 picks over the next two drafts plus wideout AD Mitchell, in addition to DT Quinnen Williams to the Cowboys for a future #1 pick, this year’s #2 pick and DT Mazi Smith. Gardner has slipped in recent seasons, playing for the struggling franchise. He is just entering his prime and can recapture his All-Pro status in the first place Colts defense. They paid huge price for the talented veteran to help the struggling Colts secondary. Gardner was one of the few cornerbacks traded over recent weeks and the only one with a Pro Bowl resume. Gardner is a major addition for the Colts porous secondary which needs to step up after showing vulnerability in tight games. They look to retain first place in the AFC South with his addition.
The Jets were not finished – trading Pro Bowl interior lineman Quinnen Williams to Dallas just before the deadline. The Cowboys’ defense has been horrible this season and the addition of Williams to couple with Kenny Clark who came in the Micah Parsons deal in September gives them a potent interior line. Their run defense has been especially poor in recent years. The Cowboys surrendered their #2 pick in April, #1 pick for the NFL Draft 2027 and veteran DT Mazi Smith. The two deals put the Jets in command with two #1 and #2 picks for the NFL Draft 2026 and three #1 picks for the NFL Draft 2027. The two trades are major decision to rebuild for the Jets’ new regime of GM Darren Mougey and HC Aaron Glenn. The 1-7 Jets currently hold the 3rd overall pick in the first round and will be in competition for the first overall selection after surrendering their two best defensive players.
Go to draftinsiders.com for Updated NFL traded draft selections for all deals
There were many rumors through the fall related to veteran players availability. Salary cap issues and agreed value limited many potential trades by most clubs.
Most bidders were playoff contenders in hopes of landing pieces at pressing positions for the second half stretch run. Most traders were rebuilding clubs, hoping to add more draft capital and add draft choices for future NFL Draft classes.
Many deals for draft selections involved in an exchange for late draft choices along with a veteran player.
