FLORHAM PARK, N.J. — New York Jets basic supervisor Darren Mougey apologized to reporters for being hoarse Tuesday, saying it was as a result of he did loads of speaking. And dealing.
In a watershed day for the franchise, Mougey traded defensive cornerstones Sauce Gardner and Quinnen Williams in separate blockbusters, basically shifting the main focus to 2026 and past.
“I would not name it a teardown,” Mougey mentioned about two hours after the NFL buying and selling deadline.
The Jets are 1-7, taking a look at their fifteenth straight non-playoff season, the league’s longest energetic drought. Mougey, in his first season, mentioned they don’t seem to be giving up on 2025.
“The objective is all the time to win,” he mentioned. “Look, these coaches and gamers work too arduous each day, all day, with the objective of successful on Sunday. And that by no means adjustments as a result of that is what the followers deserve. That is what the gamers deserve, that is what the coaches deserve and that by no means adjustments.”
Nonetheless, the trades had been gorgeous.
The Jets traded Gardner to the Indianapolis Colts for 2 first-round picks (2026 and 2027) and huge receiver Adonai Mitchell. They dealt Williams to the Dallas Cowboys for a 2026 second-round decide, a 2027 first-round decide and defensive sort out Mazi Smith.
The Gardner deal was particularly shocking, contemplating he signed a four-year, $120 million extension in July. What modified?
“Indianapolis saved getting richer and richer with their worth, and finally it was too good to go up,” mentioned Mougey, including that talks escalated over the previous few days.
The Jets weren’t buying Gardner, sources mentioned. They structured his contract in a means that might make him tradeable — a manageable quantity of up-front cash, with rolling ensures. Large receiver Garrett Wilson’s four-year, $130 million extension, additionally signed in July, was customary the identical means.
“You by no means understand how the long run goes to unfold, and we all the time needed to be able to probably commerce these contracts … [in] case that you just get right into a state of affairs the place the worth you suppose is simply too good to go up,” Mougey mentioned. “And that occurred to be the case right here.”
The Williams deal got here collectively faster than the Gardner deal. Williams, a three-time Professional Bowl sort out, was disgruntled with the path of the franchise, sources mentioned. Mougey declined to say if Williams requested a commerce, including, “I am not right here to speak about rumors and various things.”
Mougey mentioned Williams’ contract wasn’t an element within the determination. Williams is signed by means of 2027, although he has solely $5 million in remaining ensures and there was hypothesis that he was going to demand a brand new deal.
Cowboys proprietor Jerry Jones mentioned in a September radio interview that he supplied go rusher Micah Parsons to the Jets for a deal that included Williams.
“I am going to preserve all these conversations that I had with the opposite groups non-public, nevertheless it got here collectively and it was an excellent worth for us,” Mougey mentioned.
In a span of per week, the Jets traded three defensive stalwarts – Gardner, Williams and nickel again Michael Carter II, all 28 and youthful. Gardner and Williams have mixed for 5 Professional Bowls and three All-Professional picks.
The upside is the Jets have two first-round picks in 2026 and three in 2027. Mougey mentioned he is “excited” to have that flexibility.
The Jets performed commerce talks involving working again Breece Corridor and edge rusher Jermaine Johnson, sources mentioned, however determined to maintain them. Corridor shall be a free agent after the season. Mougey declined to say whether or not they wish to signal him.
“By these processes, we speak about loads of issues and we discipline loads of calls and we have got values, and Breece is a proficient participant,” Mougey mentioned. “He will assist us compete and win video games the remainder of the season. “