The New York Jets seemed to punt on the remainder of the 2025 season when they acquired future draft assets for star cornerback Ahmad “Sauce” Gardner and defensive tackle Quinnen Williams ahead of the Nov. 4 trade deadline.
Like Gardner, wide receiver Garrett Wilson committed his future to the Jets by signing a lucrative contract extension with the club this past summer. At the time, Wilson and Gardner were viewed as key figures who were supposed to help the Jets right the ship.
“Obviously, it’s kind of a reminder of the business that we’re in,” Wilson said about the Jets’ trade-deadline moves, as ESPN’s Rich Cimini shared for a piece published Thursday. “We’re all replaceable as hell. That’s just the way I see it.”
Long before Wilson put pen to paper on his four-year, $130M extension, he raised eyebrows when he said last December that he felt the Jets had “a losing problem” or losing “gene.” In early October of this year, Wilson insisted he didn’t regret inking his deal even though the Jets opened the ongoing season with four straight losses.
Of course, he offered those comments before the Jets ended this past weekend at 2-7 and before general manager Darren Mougey pressed a figurative reset button with his trades.
While Williams and Gardner have new NFL homes, running back Breece Hall stayed with the Jets through the trade deadline even though he is out of contract after the season. Stories have suggested Hall wanted to be traded to a championship contender this fall.
Like Gardner and Wilson, Hall was drafted by the Jets in the spring of 2022. Wilson and Hall have yet to be part of a winning season with the club.
“It’s very frustrating,” Hall said about the Jets’ records since 2022. “I don’t want to compare myself to other people, but I do feel like I’m one of the better running backs in the league. But if you’re losing games, and you’re getting down early, you can’t always show that. I’m definitely at a point in my career where I’ve been here for three or four years, where we expected to win, and it didn’t happen. So it sucks, but it is what it is.”
The Jets’ next chance to win will come when they play at the red-hot New England Patriots (8-2) on Thursday night. As of Thursday morning, ESPN BET had New York as a 13.5-point underdog for that contest.
The New Orleans Saints remain in the top five picks for the 2026 NFL Draft as they enter their own bye week. Sitting at 2-8, there is some enthusiasm around the team after their strong performance against the Carolina Panthers in Week 10. Tyler Shough showed glimpses of why Kellen Moore was intrigued by him, and the defense stepped up on nearly every occasion.
In the first round, the Saints grabbed a defensive prospect that has consistently sat in the top five selections throughout the college football season when it comes to mock drafts.
“New Orleans’ pass rush remains the biggest downfall of the defense. They desperately need to get Chase Young some assistance off the edge, and Bain checks that box. His start to the season was phenomenal, and his versatility could be the perfect addition up front for the Saints.” – A to Z Sports
Cameron Jordan could be playing in his final campaign this season. If that’s the case, the need for a pass rusher opposite of Chase Young is even more vital for the Saints to acquire next offseason. Bain can immediately step in and play a notable role as a rookie. Love his versatility coming out of Miami.
“You can have your concerns about the size profile. Rushers who offer power and leverage move the needle for me because they can compress the pocket and reduce angles to the quarterback. Bain offers that in bunches, and I think in some ways the compact build plays to his advantage as a result. I love the intensity he plays with as well. He may not be a one-size-fits-all rusher for every scheme, but he’s the kind of cat I’d go out of my way to make some accommodations for to free him up to be his best self.” – Kyle Crabbs, A to Z Sports
New Orleans Saints: Deion Burks, WR, Oklahoma – DeLeone
With their second-round pick, New Orleans takes a swing to help out their young QB. Burks dealt with an injury last season, but he has stayed available more consistently this season for the Sooners. He’s got a smaller frame but possesses incredible speed and explosiveness.
I’d be interested in seeing Burks in a Kellen Moore unit, but the Saints do need more size at the position. Devaughn Vele will be an option next season, but his role has not been quite what some fans hoped for ahead of the campaign. Burks has unique potential and could fulfill a similar role as to what Rashid Shaheed did for them in recent seasons before getting dealt at this deadline.