New Jets Rumors Leak on Breece Hall, Geno Smith, Will McDonald, More After Trade Deadline

Amid another bleak season, the New York Jets were expected to move some of their valuable players ahead of the NFL trade deadline on Tuesday. Instead, they remained relatively quiet.

Jets general manager Darren Mougey was only interested in trading players on expiring contracts and wanted to keep the team's roster largely intact for the 2027 season, ESPN's Rich Cimini reported.

Jets running back Breece Hall heard his name floated in trade rumors, but the fifth-year running back just signed a three-year, $43.5 million contract extension in May. Running back Braelon Allen has emerged as a threat to take the starting role, but the Jets have been able to justify keeping both players on their roster since Allen is still on his rookie deal.

Although quarterback Geno Smith is on an expiring contract, New York never entertained the idea of the veteran, according to Cimini. Smith has provided the Jets with a decent option to evaluate rookie wide receiver Omar Cooper Jr. and tight end Kenyon Sadiq.

Jets defensive end Will McDonald IV requested a trade before the deadline, but that request was ultimately not granted. New York reportedly received a "significant" offer from the Jacksonville Jaguars, and an AFC personnel director told ESPN that McDonald could have netted the Jets a second-round pick. The fourth-year pass rusher has only started two games this season, but he is expected to see the field more often after Glenn said he earned more playing time.

The Jets received inquiries for wide receiver Garrett Wilson from the Kansas City Chiefs and San Francisco 49ers, but a trade was likely never realistic. Wilson didn't want to leave and the Jets view the fifth-year wideout as a "foundational piece," according to Cimini.

Cimini believes the lack of activity signals that the Jets' front office is content with their foundation and draft capital, and they want to give head coach Aaron Glenn an opportunity to develop the current roster.

The Jets have won just two games this season and appear to be on pace for double-digit losses for the seventh consecutive season. Despite the subpar performance, Glenn believes the team is "right on the cusp of trying to breaking through."

New York holds three first-round picks in the 2027 NFL Draft. They acquired two of those selections ahead of last year's trade deadline with blockbuster deals that sent cornerback Sauce Gardner to the Indianapolis Colts and defensive tackle Quinnen Williams to the Dallas Cowboys.

This season will mark New York's 16th consecutive season without a postseason appearance, the longest active playoff drought in the league.