After New York Jets quarterback Aaron Rodgers suffered a season-ending injury in Week 1, many wrote off the team’s chances of competing. With the NFL trade deadline approaching, Jets’ general manager Joe Douglas is reportedly sticking to his aggressive approach.
Douglas and the Jets’ front office had that same mindset this offseason. New York traded for Rodgers and signed wide receivers Allen Lazard, Randall Cobb and Mecole Hardman. While the moves ate significantly into the team’s long-term cap space, it was worth it for an organization that planned to contend for the Super Bowl this fall.
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Very little has worked out well for New York. In addition to Rodgers being done for the year, Hardman has barely seen the field, while Lazard and Cobb have combined for 222 receiving yards heading into Week 6. Entering NFL games today, New York is 2-3 with one of the worst offenses in football.
As more NFL trade rumors swirl with buzz around the league of teams buying and selling, the Jets’ front office is reportedly very active right now with ongoing trade talks involving multiple clubs.
The Athletic’s Dianna Russini reports that the Jets’ phone lines are open for trade partners, with Douglas discussing options for Hardman and edge rusher Carl Lawson. As of Saturday afternoon, the Kansas City Chiefs are one of the teams reportedly in the mix for Hardman. It’s also possible that running back Dalvin Cook is made available closer to the trade deadline.
Signed to a one-year, $4 million contract this offseason, Hardman has been an afterthought for New York. Across 150 pass attempts from Jets’ quarterbacks, Hardman has just one catch on a single target in four contests. He’s one of the players most widely expected to be moved by the NFL trade deadline on Oct. 31.
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Lawson is an even bigger free-agent bust for New York. Signed to a $45 million contract in 2021, the former Cincinnati Bengals edge rusher suffered a ruptured Achilles’ tendon during a joint practice in August of that year. While he returned to the field in 2022, recording seven sacks, he was recently a healthy scratch.
With the Minnesota Vikings keeping Kirk Cousins, swinging a trade for a high-end starting quarterback isn’t happening for New York. With the team likely to be 2-4 after Week 6, it appears the Jets are ready to be sellers just months after this team seemed destined to be a Super Bowl threat.