Three roster moves Jets need to make by the trade deadline
The Jets are coming out of their bye week on a two-game winning streak and a positive attitude around the locker room. Robert Saleh has his crew playing fantastic on the defensive side and the offense isn’t losing them games. Some “glass half empty” Jets fans would say they would have been happy with the […]
The Jets are coming out of their bye week on a two-game winning streak and a positive attitude around the locker room. Robert Saleh has his crew playing fantastic on the defensive side and the offense isn’t losing them games.
Some “glass half empty” Jets fans would say they would have been happy with the Jets being 3-3 at this point of the season with Aaron Rodgers at quarterback, let alone Zach Wilson.
To this point in the season, the only game where they looked completely overmatched was the 30-10 loss to the Dallas Cowboys in week two. The loss that will haunt the Jets later in the year when they are fighting for a playoff spot will be week three 15-10 loss to the New England Patriots.
As we approach the trade deadline, the Jets have some holes on their roster and some places to improve as well as some areas where they can afford to sell off to acquire some assets.
The NFL trade deadline used to be a nothing event on the NFL calendar. A place holder for logistical purposes. But the last few seasons, we have seen more and more players move teams mid-season.
Bigger names have been sent to contenders and we have seen instant results. This week on Monday Night Football we saw Christian McCaffery of the San Francisco 49ers, acquired mid-season last year from the Carolina Panthers, score in his 16th straight game. McCaffrey, the only player in the league with a touchdown in every game this season, is one game short of Lenny Moore’s all-time record from 1963-64.
So it’s time for Joe Douglas to get on the phone and improve this roster for a playoff run. We already saw him trade Mecole Hardman back to the Kansas City Chiefs for practically nothing, but there’s a lot more to be done. The NFL trade deadline is Tuesday October 31 at 4pm ET.
Three Roster Moves Jets Need to Make by Trade Deadline
1- Trade Carl Lawson and Dalvin Cook
Carl Lawson was once the prized free agent along the defensive line that the Jets brought in, and he has been good. The Jets signed a good player they believed to be on the doorstep of being great and he just never took that next step.
He has been solid as a Jet, but in the meantime the Jets have seen several other players make giant strides along the defensive front that leaves Lawson the odd man out. The final straw in the relationship might be when he was a healthy inactive against the Denver Broncos.
Lawson could help a team that has a need at defensive end, or possibly even a 3-4 outside rush linebacker. Being in the final year of his contract, Lawson wouldn’t be much more than a rental unless the team to trade for him were to work out an extension, but I would bet Lawson tests free agency this year. The money shouldn't scare away potential suitors, as most of his 2023 compensation was paid in a renegotiation bonus.
Dalvin Cook was looking for a job and the Jets were looking for some insurance. That’s why Cook, after being courted and persuaded, signed with New York during training camp. Cook got a one year “show-me” contract and the Jets got some piece of mind if Breece Hall wasn’t able to be the player he was last year coming off his knee injury.
Well Breece Hall is back and Dalvin Cook is nothing more than a rotational player. The only thing that was keeping Cook with the Jets, besides the money, was the idea of playing with Aaron Rodgers. Now that that won’t happen this year, and Cook isn’t signed for next year, the Jets should move on.
This is Breece Hall’s offense, and the Jets have Michael Carter and the rookie home run threat Izzy Abanikanda on the roster.
The Jets should never shy away from acquiring assets especially for players who have some value. Joe Douglas knows this and should be on the phone with other teams.
2- Acquire some offensive line help
Stop me if you heard this one, the Jets need help at the offensive line due to injuries and sub-par performance. The Jets already lost Alijah Vera-Tucker for the season with a torn Achilles. Duane Brown was terrible in the two games he started before going on IR with a hip injury. Becton is not someone I would consider to be “reliable” and Joe Tippmann will be out at least a week or two with a thigh injury.
The Jets need to run the ball. The Jets need to keep Zach Wilson upright. These things only happen with a decent offensive line. Veteran Wes Schweitzer had a 38.8 pass-blocking grade in Week 6 according to PFF.
The Jets have little else on the roster. Billy Turner has played some guard in his career but he is a mediocre tackle and a depth piece. Veteran tackle Dennis Kelly who signed to the practice squad last week, played some guard at the beginning of his career. Guards Jason Poe and Xavier Newman are also on the practice squad.
La’el Collins is the biggest name available, and he met with the Jets last week, but no deal was signed. There may be other players available via trade, but this is not a group that can stand pat. An upgrade and/or depth is needed along this front five.
3- Go for the home run
The fact is this, the Jets are in a very small window. Rodgers will be back next year (if not this year) and the Jets are a championship caliber team with him under center. So don’t be shy about going for it.
If Davante Adams can be had from the Las Vegas Raiders, he should not be traded unless it is to the Jets. The Raiders could very well mean it when they say they aren’t going to trade him, but if he does get traded, the Jets should not be out bid for his services.
The Jets should be making every call looking for that last piece of the puzzle. I wouldn’t mind them trading for a Cortland Sutton or Jerry Jeudy from the Denver Broncos if they can. Now isn’t the time to bargain shop on players that might not be available this offseason or next year because they were traded now.
And if none of these players are truly available, then hit a home run of a different kind and lock up Bryce Huff. He is a rare find and (to borrow the phrase from Robert Saleh) a true game wrecker.
Don’t let things get contentious in the offseason or let him out the door to test free agency. This is a player the Jets will regret losing if they let him leave.
I would have added obtain a better QB than the ones currently on the roster, but it appears that Saleh, Hackett and Douglas are steadfast in their approach to this season. This is Zach Wilson’s team for as long as he can play, and the Jets don’t seem to be willing to waiver from that. He has been better the last few weeks as has the play design and play calling.
It would be naïve to think the Jets can win a Super Bowl with the offense as currently constructed, but that goal went out the window four offensive plays into
Saleh gives post-bye week injury updates on several Jets players
The Jets return from their bye-week off with a 3-3 record and are getting ready for the “easier” part of their schedule. First up- the long trip across the parking lot to go “on the road” to face the New York Giants at MetLife Stadium. The Giants have been better of late, finally scoring a […]
Featured image via Chris Pedota, NorthJersey.com / USA TODAY NETWORK
