ClutchPoints
The New York Jets are rebuilding after the organization’s dream of an Aaron Rodgers-led championship run ended in a nightmare. The team replaced its general manager, head coach, coordinators and quarterback since last year’s season opener.
Aaron Glenn is at the helm now, running the organization with first-time GM Darren Mougey. And with new management in charge, the team can go in any number of directions. There are trade targets the Jets could acquire, an obvious trade New York could make and a potential deadline deal.
But these are two sneaky trades the team could make heading into training camp. While neither move would result in a better football team this season, and neither is necessarily recommended, they both could potentially help New York compete down the road.
If Glenn’s mission is to build culture with the Jets, it would seem ill-advised to move on from Quincy Williams. The former first-team All-Pro is the kind of player you would want as the foundation of your culture rebuild.
Williams is a strong veteran presence in the locker room. This is particularly important after the Jets released C.J. Mosely, who had taken on a leadership role during his six seasons with New York.
The team went from having one of the NFL’s oldest rosters last season to one of the youngest in 2025. While Glenn’s youth movement is the right course for a franchise that’s far from championship caliber, the Jets still need veteran leaders. Williams provides that presence for the team, and that’s saying nothing of his actual on-field value.
The seventh-year pro is one of the very best linebackers in football when at his best, evidenced by his excellent 2023 campaign. Despite a dip in production last season, Williams plays elite pass coverage and has the motor and sideline-to-sideline speed to track down opponents in the open field.
In a perfect world, Quincy would stay in New York with his younger brother Quinnen. However, he’s entering the final season of a three-year, $18 million contract he signed with the team in 2023.
The Jets just inked fellow linebacker Jamien Sherwood to a three-year, $45 million extension after he led the league in solo tackles during his first season as a starter. Additionally, New York is working on long term extensions for Sauce Gardner and Garrett Wilson after exercising their fifth-year options.
The team will spend big money on their standout cornerback and wideout. But the Jets also have big decisions to make on right guard Alijah Vera-Tucker and running back Breece Hall, who are both entering the final year of their rookie deals.
If the Jets decide there isn’t enough to go around or that they don’t want to invest that heavily in the position, Williams would make for a sneaky trade heading into training camp. He could immediately improve a contender’s linebacker room and return valuable draft capital to the Jets, who may have an eye on Texas LB Anthony Hill...
