Should Jets Sell off Talent as Trade Deadline Looms?
November 4 is approaching, and there’s a looming question that’s very difficult to answer at this point, though many are going to make it out like it’s a very easy decision. Should the Jets be sellers as the trade deadline approaches?
The answer to that question isn’t black and white. The answers will vary. However, some will say yes.
Let’s dive into some prime trade candidates for Gang Green.
Quinnen Williams
With his brother, Quincy Williams, not likely returning in 2026, he’s the one many will turn to as the best trade candidate. Williams could net a good return for draft assets. So, on the surface, it would seem like a no-brainer for many fans. That said, this would largely depend on Williams.
The main issue is replacing Quinnen Williams. Will the Jets even be able to find someone as good in the draft or free agency?
If he’s willing to do an extension and ride out the pain while continuing to build, it’s a hard no. If he wants out and demands a trade — or refuses to sign an extension — then the Jets should heavily consider a trade.
A trade of Williams would cost the Jets $934,150 per game in dead money, plus his prorated signing bonus of $4.9 million. There would be a dead cap charge of $9.8 million in 2026.
Breece Hall
The Jets will likely be big players in free agency in 2026, if players are willing to come here, and they’re willing to pony up the money. That means they’d likely end up losing any compensatory pick they’d get back for Hall in 2027. So, if they don’t plan on bringing Hall back, they should probably trade him.
He could net a fourth-round pick for his talent. From a cap standpoint, a Hall trade would cost the Jets a dead cap charge of $189,222 per week plus $934,049 in his final year of bonus proration.
Quincy Williams
They just signed Jamien Sherwood to a long-term extension. So, that means more than likely, Williams is a goner in 2026. So, this is the only real no-brainer trade for the Jets this trade deadline.
He’s due to come off the reserve/injured list two weeks before the trade deadline. A Quincy Williams trade immediately upon being activated off IR would result in cap savings of $3,972,222.
Players to bring in as replacements
Their best options at this point may be to simply sign players from their own practice squad and see if they can be future players for this team. Payton Page and Jackson Sirmon would be options. Page and Sirmon would cost the Jets $46,666 per week on the active roster and $13,000 per week of the prior practice squad time.
For Hall, the Jets would sign Avery Williams. He would count $22,000 for each week on the practice squad plus $65,000 per week on the active roster.
Those three are the only Jets that would get anything in a trade at this point, and they’d likely use practice squad players, because, at this point, free agents may not want to sign with the Jets. Additionally, if Page or Sirmon would to prove themselves worthy of a future roster spot — or at least a 2026 camp invite — they’d be exclusive rights free agents, giving the Jets three additional seasons of cheap control for one or both.
It’s not as cut and dry as many think when it comes to the Jets being sellers at the November 4 trade deadline. That said, it’s something for the Jets to start thinking about as the deadline approaches.