- Total Trades: 5
- Average Grade: C+ (78.2)
This page lists all the 2025 Trades for the New York Jets. I’ve listed all of the NFL Free Agent Signing Grades here, which included the trades. Because I’ve begun posting polls for the trades, I thought it would make sense to list just the NFL trades here, so archiving the voting would be easier.
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November 2025 – Trades
Cowboys acquire DT Quinnen Williams from Jets for 2026 second-round pick, 2027 first-round pick, DT Mazi Smith
I was ready to make fun of the Cowboys for surrendering two first-round picks when this trade was initially announced. As it turns out, the Cowboys are giving away just one opening-round selection in 2027. They’re also throwing in a second-round pick for this year’s draft, as well as recent first-round draft bust Mazi Smith.
I can’t believe it, but I actually like this trade for the Cowboys. It seems ridiculous that they’d be buyers at 3-5-1, but Williams is one of the best defensive linemen in the NFL, and he’s still fairly young at 27. Williams may not be able to help Dallas win this year, but with two first-round picks, the Cowboys can load up on talent next year and make a run at Super Bowl LXI. Also, it must be considered that Jerry Jones isn’t too far removed from being played in a nursing home, so it would make sense for him to have an all-in approach.
Meanwhile, the Jets continue to implode their roster. At this point, they resemble some zebra that just collapses and meets its fate against a lion. They’ve traded away their two best defensive players, which would make sense in a rebuild if those two players were aging veterans. However, Sauce Gardner is 25, while Williams is 27. They could have easily been part of the rebuilding project.
The Jets were at least able to obtain two first-round picks for Gardner. Not being able to do so for Williams is embarrassing. The Jets look like the real losers of the trade deadline. If they don’t nail these draft picks, they’re going to be the worst team in the NFL for a very long time.
Grade for Cowboys – A
Grade for Jets – D
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Colts acquire CB Sauce Gardner from Jets for two first-round picks, WR Adonai Mitchell
The Jaguars traded for a receiver about an hour prior to this deal. The Colts countered by obtaining a player who could easily shut down that receiver. I’d say the Colts won the 2025 trade deadline.
Indianapolis has been a great upstart this year with its No. 1 offense, but the defense was ranked just 15th in EPA. Cornerback, in particular, was a problematic position. That’s not the case anymore in the wake of the Sauce Gardner trade.
The Colts needed a boost in the secondary to compete with the top teams in the AFC. Gardner will certainly provide that boost. He’s a legitimate shutdown cornerback who will allow the Colts to erase one side of the field. Gardner will be especially lethal when paired with Indianapolis’ pass rush, which is ranked third in pressures this season. He’s also just 25, so it’s not like he’ll undergo any regression in the coming years. Surrendering two first-round picks may seem like a lot, but the Colts will be picking in the 20s or perhaps even the 30s, so it won’t be too painful.
Meanwhile, Jets fans can’t feel too good about this trade. The team needs a rebuild, but given that Gardner is just 25, he was supposed to be part of the rebuild. And unless something strange happens next year, the Jets won’t be picking before the mid-20s with either of Indianapolis’ selections.
Grade for Colts – A+
Grade for Jets – C
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October 2025 – Trades
Eagles acquire CB Michael Carter from Jets for WR John Metchie, late-round pick swap
I somehow missed this trade when it occurred. Not only did the Eagles acquie Jaire Alexander and Jaelan Phillips; they also obtained Michael Carter. They’ve clearly tried to improve their pass defense, which has been the weak part of the roster.
Prior to 2024, Carter was known as an excellent, up-and-coming nickel cornerback. Unfortunately for Carter, he’s endured a poor season-and-a-half because of injuries. However, Carter is only 26, so he could easily bounce back to form, especially when playing with a front seven that produces way more pressure on the quarterback than Jets do. I love that the Eagles are buying very low on Carter. If Carter continues to struggle, then they just surrendered a practice squad-caliber receiver and a swap of sixth- and seventh-round picks.
The Jets, meanwhile, don’t really benefit from this deal. Moving up from the seventh to the sixth round is usually meaningless, while Metchie has never produced anything in the NFL. Trading Carter away before the payment bump in his contract makes sense, but it’s not like the Jets have improved from this trade.
Grade for Eagles – A
Grade for Jets – C
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September 2025 – Trades
Jets acquire CB Jarvis Brownlee from Titans for late-round pick swap
The Titans don’t have much defensive talent outside of the front line, so it’s a bit odd to see them giving away a young player who has a bit of upside. Jarvis Brownlee isn’t great by any means, and I wouldn’t even call him mediocre, but he’s not a bad player either. He’s young – he turned 24 recently – so there’s some potential.
I’m going to trust Aaron Glenn, a brilliant defensive mastermind and a former NFL cornerback, that he sees something in Brownlee. If Glenn’s instincts are correct, the Jets could be walking away with a steal because all they did was turn their sixth-round pick into a seventh-rounder in exchange for Brownlee. This trade could also be mostly irrelevant, but there’s more upside for the Jets than the Titans in this deal.
Grade for Jets – B+
Grade for Titans – B-
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March 2025 – Trades
Jets acquire WR Davante Adams from Raiders for conditional 3rd-round pick
The Davante Adams drama has finally come to an end. It wasn’t clear which former quarterback Adams would join, but we now know that it’ll be Aaron Rodgers, as the Jets acquired the talented receiver for a third-round pick that could become a second-rounder if Adams is an All-Pro or if the Jets reach the AFC Championship.
Teams that are 2-4 often aren’t buyers, but the Jets are missed field goals away from being 4-2, so perhaps they also should have acquired Daniel Carlson in the trade. Adams won’t help the Jets kick any field goals, but he’ll give Rodgers a great weapon across from Garrett Wilson. It’s going to be extremely difficult to defend the Jets with Wilson and Adams on the outside and Breece Hall coming out of the backfield. If the defense steps up and stops committing a million pass interferences, and Greg Zuerlein quits choking, the Jets will be one of the best teams in the NFL.
I love this trade for the Jets because they’re all in to win now, so it makes sense to pull the trigger on this sort of move. This deal also is a logical one for the Raiders. Adams was disgruntled and the team isn’t nearly in position to win anything now anyway, so they had to acquire a major resource. The Raiders didn’t quite get the second-rounder they coveted, but this was probably the best they could have done for a receiver in his 30s.
Grade for Jets – A
Grade for Raiders – B+
Comment on the other free agent signings below.
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