The 2023 NFL Trade Deadline is just a few weeks away and for the first time in a long time, the New York Jets are expected to be active.
At 3-3, the playoffs are a very real possibility for Gang Green, and the next coming weeks should be focused on how to improve the roster by the deadline in a way that keeps future assets intact, while also competing at the highest level. Luckily for New York, there are plenty of players across the league that could offer some important help for them for the remainder of the season.
Let’s go through five of the likeliest names the Jets could be in on, and what it would take to get them to Florham Park.
Hunter Renfrow
The Jets need help in the passing game. While Zach Wilson’s improvements have been a positive sign to see, if New York is to end their playoff drought, they need more dependable pass catchers. One move they can make that should certainly help them is improving the slot receiver role.
Hunter Renfrow’s time in Las Vegas is clearly at an end. With Jakobi Meyers now entrenched with Josh McDaniels, Renfrow is going to be made available for relatively cheap. Gang Green hasn’t figured out what to do with Mecole Hardman so a Hardman-for-Renfrow pick swap makes a lot of sense here.
Is Renfrow an upgrade over Randall Cobb? Absolutely. It’s about time Nathaniel Hackett and the rest of the offense realized that too.
Potential Deal: Mecole Hardman, late-round pick swaps
Garrett Bolles
New York’s offensive line may have given up five sacks against Philadelphia, but they did not play poorly overall. Mekhi Becton looked solid, and Laken Tomlinson has turned around his Jets career in impressive fashion. The big problem for this group is on the right side now. With Joe Tippmann expected out for a little bit, the Jets need to find a way to solidify that side of the line. Max Mitchell was serviceable in replace of Alijah Vera-Tucker, but a veteran like Garrett Bolles would not only add a starter to the equation, but it could give the Jets an ability to work several of their younger prospects inside to better prepare for the remainder of the season.
Denver is in firesale mode now and will be looking to move some of their more disgruntled players. Bolles has never played on a winner and Gang Green is a perfect spot for him to change that.
Potential Deal: 2024 Fourth-round pick
Jeremy Chinn
If you look at every position group on the defensive side, there is reason for optimism – or at least an argument to not make a move. That being said, there’s a logjam along the defensive line and some very good players are not seeing the field at all.
It would make sense to move a player like Carl Lawson to better fortify the back end of their defense – a group that has impressed but is low on depth.
Jeremy Chinn of the Panthers was once seen as an up-and-coming young safety. For some reason, Frank Reich’s new staff does not believe in his talents and hasn’t played him. It would make sense for the Jets to upgrade their third safety to a true cover guy who would be an upgrade over Adrian Amos. You can never be satisfied with a group throughout the year and to make a move here would be to solidify the weakest spot on the defense.
Potential Deal: Carl Lawson, late-round pick swaps
Quez Watkins
The Quez Watkins experiment in Philadelphia has just about ended. He doesn’t get a lot of targets anymore and when he does, he does very little with them. It would make a lot of sense for the Jets and Eagles, after just facing off, to cut ties on two of their receivers who are offering next to nothing on the field.
While Watkins’ struggles are well documented, he is a fast receiver who can win at the line of scrimmage and is a player every other team will need to watch for. He is the perfect slot candidate for Nathaniel Hackett’s offense. The move would also be good for Hardman because he’ll be on a team that could use his speed and knowledge on the field.
Potential Deal: Mecole Hardman
Antonio Gibson
If the Quez Watkins experiment failed in Philly, the Dalvin Cook experiment has blown up in the Jets’ face in 2023. New York has gotten less than nothing from the former Pro Bowl running back and they are starting to give him fewer snaps because of it. It’s still important for the team to not run a top player like Breece Hall into the ground though so finding a competent second fiddle would make a lot of sense.
Washington may be over .500, but they are in third place in the NFC East and not expected to go far even if they make the playoffs. With Brian Johnson entrenched as the lead back, perhaps both teams decide to take their other disappointing runners off each other’s hands. Antonio Gibson is a physical player but has good vision. He would be a very strong compliment to what Hall brings to the table and could be an underrated move for Joe Douglas and the Jets.
Potential Deal: Dalvin Cook, and 2024 fifth-round pick
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