Jets trade deadline: Difficult decisions on Breece Hall, Quinnen Williams and others – The Athletic
If y’all don’t want me, that’s your loss. I’ll come back and kill you guys.
That was Breece Hall’s message before Sunday’s game against the Cincinnati Bengals, as relayed by CBS sideline reporter Aditi Kinkhabwala. It was in response to the trade rumors that have been swirling around Hall dating back to the offseason — though they got louder as the Jets started out the season with seven straight losses.
Earlier in the week, Hall went to Jets coaches and told them to give him the ball more.
If Hall was carrying that sort of energy all week, perhaps everyone should have seen his performance in Cincinnati coming — he rushed for two touchdowns, both in the fourth quarter, then threw the game-winning touchdown to tight end Mason Taylor. If that was Hall’s last game in a Jets uniform, he went out in style.
Before last Sunday, Hall had the unfortunate distinction as the player in the NFL having the most touches without a touchdown. In recent weeks, Hall’s coaches, he said, told him that he has “the respect of everybody” and so he has “the means to demand the ball.” And that’s exactly what he did.
“I kinda went to the coaches this week and not complained but said if Garrett (Wilson) is not playing I need the ball at least 20-25 times,” Hall said. “I’ve always told them: I hate losing. But if we lose, I want it to be on me. I want to go out swinging.”
The Jets didn’t lose, and so now they have a decision — decisions, really — on their hand ahead of the deadline. They’re still 1-7 and closer to the No. 1 pick than a winning record. So, like vultures, teams around the NFL are attempting to pick at the 2025 Jets’ corpse. That doesn’t mean general manager Darren Mougey is simply going to give up players for the sake of it. And those players include Hall.
Hall is about to find out how much the organization that drafted him values him now with a new regime in place. He’s in the last year of his contract and there is no guarantee he’ll return in the offseason. What will they do? And what can the Jets get for him?
These are things the Jets will be debating internally leading up to Tuesday’s trade deadline, about Hall and a host of other notable players on the roster that teams have called — or will be calling — about. The Jets already let defensive end Jermaine Johnson know he’s part of their plans, in light of trade rumors. Teams have been calling about defensive tackle Quinnen Williams too, according to team and league sources, but the Jets are not seriously entertaining the prospect of trading him.
On Monday, Glenn was asked about the trade deadline and nearly dropped a Bill Parcells-ism before stopping himself mid-thought. A safe guess would be that Glenn was about to share the story of when Parcells was hired as the Jets coach in 1997 and Glenn, entering his fourth year as a Jets cornerback, stormed into Parcells’ office asking if he was going to be traded. Parcells calmly closed the door and said: “Everybody has a price. My own wife can get traded.”
Instead, on Tuesday, Glenn said this: “Everybody listens, but that doesn’t mean that you act on anything.”
The Jets will get calls. But will they result in any moves? They are not making the playoffs, so any moves Mougey makes need to be (or should be) with an eye toward 2026 and beyond. If a player is not part of their future plans, then the Jets absolutely should consider getting some draft capital for them ahead of the deadline.
On that note, here’s a look at the players on the roster that other teams will be calling about, what it might take to trade them away, and why they should (or shouldn’t) make that move…
Likely available
LB Quincy Williams
2025 stats: 22 tackles, 1.5 sacks, three tackles for loss, four pass deflections in four games
Contract situation: In the last year of his contract, owed $3.6 million of his base salary for the remainder of this season, including the bye week. The Jets will carry a $4.875 million dead cap penalty in 2026 regardless of whether he’s on the roster.
Trade value: Day 3 pick, in the fourth-to-fifth round range.
Why they would trade him: The Jets just paid Jamien Sherwood $45 million over three years and Williams will likely seek (and deserves) a similar payday. It’s unlikely the Jets would pay two linebackers that much money, and if the Jets are active in free agency it’s unlikely they’ll get a compensatory draft pick if Williams signs with another team anyway. It makes sense to get draft value now, especially with rookie Kiko Mauigoa playing well.
Why they shouldn’t: Sherwood is having a down season and Williams is a better playmaker.
Prediction: Williams is traded for a fourth- or fifth-round pick. The 49ers (with former Jets coach Robert Saleh as their defensive coordinator and without Fred Warner, lost to injury) make a lot of sense.
CB Michael Carter II
2025 stats: 14 tackles, two pass deflections in five games
Contract situation: He signed a three-year, $30.75 million extension in 2024 which goes through the 2026 season. He’s owed the remainder of his $1.69 million salary this season and $9.69 million in 2026, though only $1.38 million of that is guaranteed.
Trade value: Late Day 3 pick, sixth-to-seventh round
Why they would trade him: Carter hasn’t looked like himself since signing his extension due to injuries, and Jarvis Brownlee has overtaken his spot in the lineup as a nickel corner. The Jets will likely cut him for cap savings in the offseason if he’s not traded.
Why they shouldn’t: He’s a valuable locker room presence and a quality player when healthy.
Prediction: The Jets trade Carter for a late-round pick. Plenty of teams need cornerback help, including the Cowboys, Eagles, Bears, Lions, Falcons and 49ers.
For the right price
RB Breece Hall
2025 stats: 581 rushing yards (sixth in NFL), two touchdowns, 178 receiving yards
Contract situation: Owed $1.9 million of salary remaining on the last year of his rookie contract
Trade value: Early Day 3 pick, fourth-to-fifth round
Why they would trade him: If they have no intention of re-signing him and a team is willing to give up a fourth-round pick — or more.
Why they shouldn’t: It wouldn’t send a great message to the team considering the Jets lack options at running back with Braelon Allen out. It wouldn’t be worth getting rid of Hall for just a fifth-round pick, and if he keeps playing like he did against the Bengals, the Jets might want to consider re-signing him.
Prediction: Hall isn’t traded.
DE Will McDonald IV
2025 stats: 15 tackles, three sacks, six QB hits
Contract situation: In third year of his rookie contract and a likely candidate for the fifth-year option in 2027 as a former first-round pick. He has a $4.4 million cap hit in 2025, $5.2 million in 2026.
Trade value: Day 2 pick
Why they would trade him: He was dominant at times in 2024 (10.5 sacks) but hasn’t been as effective this year. His only sacks came in Week 1 and late against the Bengals. He hasn’t appeared to be a great fit in Glenn’s scheme and McDonald has only played 60 percent of the snaps, often leaving the field on running downs. He’s young and could have value on the trade market if this staff doesn’t value him long-term.
Why they shouldn’t: He’s a talented pass-rusher, only 26 and under team control through 2027.
Prediction: He stays — unless a team offers a second-round pick.
G John Simpson
2025 stats: 17 pressures, three sacks allowed in 322 pass-blocking snaps, per PFF. Also: five penalties.
Contract situation: Owed $2.7 million of the salary remaining on the last year of his contract.
Trade value: Early Day 3 pick, fourth-to-fifth round
Why they would trade him: If they don’t envision re-signing him this offseason as a free agent and a team makes an offer worth considering.
Why they shouldn’t: He’s still only 28 and is a quality starter and emotional leader. He has made it clear he wants to be here.
Prediction: Simpson stays.
Highly unlikely
DT Quinnen Williams
2025 stats: 32 tackles, one sack, three QB hits, three forced fumbles in eight games
Contract situation: Owed $8.69 million of his salary from the remainder of this season, plus a $20.75 million salary in 2026 and $25.4 million in 2027, though he’s only owed $5 million in guaranteed salary after this season.
Trade value: First or second-round pick — plus more
Why they would trade him: From what I’ve been told, the Jets wouldn’t even have a conversation about Williams unless a trade involved multiple first-round picks. There is a sense that Williams, with the Jets since 2019, is tired of losing and there’s a belief around the league that he’s unhappy. Williams also likely will want more of his salary guaranteed beyond this year at some point.
Why they shouldn’t: At his best, Williams might be the Jets’ best player and it’s nearly universally agreed that he’s one of the five-to-10 best defensive tackles in the NFL. He’s a leader and the sort of player worth building around — if he’s willing to be there for the duration of the latest rebuild.
Prediction: He’s not traded at the deadline — but he’s someone to keep an eye on in the offseason.
DE Jermaine Johnson
2025 stats: 19 tackles, one sack, two QB hits, one pass deflection in five games
Contract situation: He only carries a $4.16 million cap hit in the fourth year of his rookie contract. The Jets exercised his fifth-year option for 2026, valued at $13.4 million.
Trade value: Day 2 pick plus more
Why they would trade him: If they don’t view Johnson as part of their future and a team offers something that would be hard to turn down.
Why they shouldn’t: He’s the most complete defensive end the Jets have and an emotional leader, and the defense has played significantly better since he returned from injury. That $13.4 million cap hit is resonable for a player of his caliber.
Prediction: Johnson stays.
