In sports, some teams are known for breaking the hearts of their fans with blown leads, brutal injuries and much more. For those fans, it can be tough to tune in sometimes.
But no matter what franchise it is, the bye week usually provides relief from that heartbreak.
That is, unless you’re the New York Jets.
The NFL trade deadline passed last Tuesday, and the 1-7 Jets made three trades that shook up the league. The first deal sent nickel-cornerback Michael Carter II and a 2027 seventh round pick to the Philadelphia Eagles for wide receiver John Metchie III and a 2027 sixth round pick.
Carter had been the Jets’ slot-man the past few years, and signed a three-year $30.75 million extension last year, but he struggled heavily with the Jets this year and the new regime decided it was time to move on.
Metchie was drafted in the second round by the Houston Texans back in 2022 but missed his rookie year with promyelocytic leukemia and saw limited action with Houston afterwards.
Metchie was traded to the Eagles this offseason and now should see his best chance for playtime on a Jets roster, with little receiving depth behind Garrett Wilson.
The biggest and most shocking move of the deadline sent superstar cornerback Sauce Gardner to the Indianapolis Colts in exchange for their 2026 and 2027 first round picks, along with wide receiver Adonai Mitchell.
Gardener was named a first-team All-Pro in his first two seasons — the only cornerback to ever do so — and he was also the 2022 Defensive Rookie of the Year.
Gardener signed a four-year $120.4 million extension this offseason to make him the highest paid cornerback in history on the same day that fellow 2022 Jets draft pick Garrett Wilson signed a four-year extension. The two looked to remain the Jets’ star duo for years to come.
Everything good about Gardener is what made it so crushing for Jet fans to see him go.
Jets’ and Giants reporter Connor Hughes reported that general manager Darren Mougey was not actively shopping Gardener, but was given an offer that was too good to refuse given the Jets’ situation.
However, Mougey didn’t stop there, sending 2022 first team All-Pro and three-time Pro-Bowl defensive tackle Quinnen Williams to the Dallas Cowboys in exchange for a 2027 first-round pick, a 2026 second rounder and DT Mazi Smith.
Williams was picked third overall by the Jets in 2019 and signed a 4-year, $96 million contract extension in the summer of 2023.
Williams had reportedly requested a trade from the team on three separate occasions according to Hughes.
Smith was the 26th pick in the 2023 draft and immediately slotted into the Jets roster in the hole Williams left.
The Jets only made one move to bring in a player, acquiring CB Ja’Sir Taylor from the Los Angeles Chargers for a 2028 seventh round pick.
The trades themselves fetched very good returns.
Moving on from their best two players, though, signals another full-blown rebuild in East Rutherford.
The future does look bright for the Jets, as they are currently slated to have the third most cap space in 2026 and second most in 2027, according to Spotrac.
The Jets look to have their future set for offensive tackles and defensive edges, with their past three first-round picks consisting of RT Armand Membou, LT Olu Fashanu and DE Will McDonald IV, along with 2022 first round pick and DE Jermaine Johnson II.
Though there are other things to work on, the most important thing for Mougey is to draft the right QB.
Had they had better QB play during 2022 and 2023 they could have been a much better team, but the offense couldn’t get it going under former second overall pick Zach Wilson.
Wilson was benched in both of those seasons, and the team had already pivoted to future Hall of Famer Aaron Rodgers by 2023 but infamously lost him for the season to an Achilles tear on only his fourth snap as a Jet.
The Jets will likely be in the top five of the draft this year, so Indiana’s Fernando Mendoza or Alabama’s Ty Simpson will be on their radar.
The 2027 class has become very highly touted, with names like Dylan Raiola, DJ Lagway and CJ Carr available, among many others.
Mougey will have the opportunity to find his perfect QB fit, but the Jets have a history of poor QB draft selections. The margin of error at the position is low, and he’ll be forced to put his job in the hands of somebody fresh out of college.
Mougey will also need to make good moves elsewhere, of course, but as the Jets have proven time and time again, it won’t matter if the QB can’t complete a pass.
The Jets are now 2-7 following a special teams-driven win over the Cleveland Browns and could at least make their record look a little better with only four of their remaining eight opponents being over .500.
The Jets head to Foxborough tomorrow night to face the New England Patriots, trying to spoil what is being hailed by many as an easy win for the Pats and their breakout QB Drake Maye.