The 2023 NFL Trade Deadline is under two weeks away and for the first time in a long time, the New York Jets are expected to be buyers. It’s a great change of pace for a team that hasn’t been competitive over the years and sporting an over-decade-long playoff drought.
At 3-3, New York’s playoff chances aren’t fully guaranteed, but they are playing impressive ball against some of the league’s best organizations. That means any incoming move over the next few weeks should be made to improve the team – not tear down what is already there.
AMNY has gone through some potential trades Gang Green could make this month, as well as what it would cost to bring some in. Today, we look at what positions need an infusion of talent before the Halloween deadline.
Wide Receiver
Garrett Wilson is a stud. There is no denying that. Despite his talents, he’s the only receiver with over 30 catches and 300 yards on the year – no other wideout has over 20 catches.
If the Jets are going to be competitive down the stretch, they need to be competitive in the passing game. Allen Lazard is a quality second wideout and Tyler Conklin is a strong tight end, but there is no slot receiver performing at a high level for this team. That needs to change.
Wide receiver is also a position that could help this franchise in the future as well. When Aaron Rodgers returns from his Achilles recovery, the goal should be to surround him with as many weapons as possible – not try to make do with Randall Cobb in a prominent role.
The receiver position needs to be addressed next week.
Interior Offensive Line
Injuries are the only reason why the offensive line needs to be addressed at this time. Laken Tomlinson and Mekhi Becton have been excellent over the last few weeks on the left side of the line while rookie Joe Tippmann has been quite a surprise for the team since taking over as the starting guard.
After Tippmann though, the interior of the Jets’ offensive line is very thin at depth. At this moment, Wes Schweitzer is the lone backup for both guard and center positions. It’s a recipe for disaster if Tippmann cannot go next week against the Giants, or another injury hits the Jets.
There may not be a lot of avenues they can go, but Gang Green must bring in more reinforcements along the interior.
Safety
New York’s safety room has greatly improved this year as opposed to last year where they were ranked dead last in a series of categories including missed tackles, and coverages in the passing game. So far this season though, if it weren’t for the top safeties on the team, the Jets would not be in as advantageous a situation as they are today.
That doesn’t mean they are completely perfect though. With injuries plaguing the cornerback room, a move to improve the third safety spot could be in the works with plenty of top contenders looking to fill that role.
Jeremy Chinn’s injury takes him out of the running but with the Denver Broncos looking to tear their roster down for a rebuild, Justin Simmons could be a possible player to acquire.
Whatever the Jets decide, they cannot ignore the need in the back end for a dependable player.
Defensive Tackle
Here’s a position group that many may not think is worth striking a deal over but there are plenty of reasons why the defensive tackle position should not be forgotten over the next few weeks. First off, outside of Quinnen Williams, there isn’t a veteran player locked into a deal after the 2023 season on the Jets (depending on where you see Michael Clemons’ role).
New York could use some strong stability at the position that pairs nicely with their All-Pro defensive player. It’s not a major trade that would need to be made, but having another rotational piece in the middle of the defense could go a long way to keeping some of their top veterans healthy down the stretch for a playoff run.
For more New York Jets news, turn to AMNY.com
Read more: Analyzing Jets Trades to Boost Playoff Hopes
