The NFL trade deadline is here, and coming in hot. Like the New York Jets, another team at a crossroads and considering their own big moves in the near future. Star defensive tackle Quinnen Williams can come back from IR in only a fortnight. The team will be bettering its own roster in order to get ready for what should be a tremendously important final stretch of the season. To say that the Jets are having a painful season would be an understatement. They’ve lost three games by six points or less, something that makes them tied for second most in the league with the Kansas City Chiefs and Arizona Cardinals.
Go back a year and Quinnen Williams is justifiably seen as the Jets’ top overall player. He should be fully healthy by the trade deadline. At 27 years old, he’s still in the prime of his career, with a birthday coming up in December. He recently signed a four-year, $96 million extension earlier this year, which showcases just how important the team thinks he is moving forward. This agreement would maintain him under team control for an additional two seasons.
In recent weeks, the Jets’ pass rush has faltered, a situation attributed to facing more max protection schemes than most teams encounter. Williams has recently jumped up to 10th place on the franchise’s career receptions list. In the end, he underscored his own importance in facilitating a fix.
“We’re 0-5, and the defense has been the problem, the reason why we’re 0-5,” – Quinnen Williams
The Jets will have their own electrifying RB in Breece Hall to unleash as well. Hall of Fame GM Bill Polian’s now-laughable three-year, $31 million extension from former Jets GM Joe Douglas 13 months ago is still hard to fathom. Now in the last year of his rookie contract, Hall is the eighth-ranked player in total scrimmage yards. He quickly becomes an invaluable asset to the entire team.
In a wide-ranging interview last month, Hall underscored his commitment to restoring credibility and stewardship to the organization.
“I want to be here. I love being a New York Jet and everything. At the end of the day, I don’t control what goes on,” – Breece Hall
As the Jets continue to weather through their self-destructive storm, they’re dealing with questions about their defensive togetherness. Quincy Williams, though just 5-foot-11 and 230 pounds, has emerged as the quarterback of the defense. His leadership will be extremely important. He’s doing everything he can to motivate and inspire a unit that has yet to find a groove between the white lines.
The value of clear communication and vision, and the strategic narrative they provide, has not escaped the attention of those on the defense. As former Jets assistant coach Aaron Glenn put it:
“Listen, he’s one of the guys that I love everything about who he is and what he’s about, and I’m looking forward to competing against him because I know how he is. This will be a competitive battle between both of us.” – Aaron Glenn
The Jets’ leadership seems to understand the difficult road ahead as they gear up for it, seemingly readying themselves for a first round of trades. The front office must evaluate whether to retain key players like Williams and Hall or consider moving them to strengthen future prospects.
It’s trade fever across the league right now. All sorts of teams are reportedly kicking the tires on possible trades for either Williams or Hall ahead of the deadline. How the franchise has performed so far this season could weigh on their minds. If they choose to deal either player, it will be an indication of a rebuild approach. They are willing to focus on long-term rebuilding rather than short-term competitiveness.
While uncertainty looms over the roster, it’s clear that both Williams and Hall have firmly established themselves as vital pieces of the Jets’ future. They represent the promise of success that the organization hopes to tap into deeper down the pipeline in coming seasons.
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