NFL 2025 Trading Deadline Analysis, Jets Make Big Splash

Segment 1: Details of biggest splash: Jets trade two stars in their prime for major draft capital to rebuild core talent (0:40) Trade CB Sauce Gardner to the Colts for two first round picks (2026 and 2027) and WR Adonai Mitchell Trade DT Quinnen Williams to Dallas for a first round pick in 2027, second rounder in 2026 and DT Mazi Smith (Cowboys' first round pick in 2023) Jets now have 5 first round picks and 3 second rounders over the next two NFL drafts Segment 2: Trade Analysis (3:30) At 1-7, new Jets management -- first year head coach Aaron Glenn and first-time GM Darren Mougey -- makes the decision to go into full rebuild mode, likely not having the QB for next season on the roster Hope is a four letter word for fans The team now has the draft capital to bring in top talent to develop a new core to build around; decision made the current core was not getting it done (no winning seasons in years) Almost $80 million in salary cap space is created by the transactions over the next two seasons Discussion around which core players can management build around; offensive line the centerpoint; offensive weapons still needed, two cornerstones are D are gone Having draft capital is huge; the key is can Jets management turn around a long history of poor drafts to bring in the right talent and then DEVELOP it; being wrong on high draft selections can set back franchises for years. Case in point: former No. 2 overall pick QB Zach Wilson.  Another example: the entire 2020 draft class is no longer with the team. Oof Defensive secondary goes from strength to weakness Will the Jets be able to incorporate the new WRs acquired in recent trades to contribute this season The Colts are all in, playing well with potential MVP candidates QB Daniel Jones and RB Jonathan Taylor; brings in elite CB talent in Gardner to sure up their secondary Dallas moves to improve a porous defense giving up more than 30 points per game Segment 3: Which teams did best at the trade deadline (21:25) Seahawks: Brought in talented WR Rashid Shaheed from the Saints to help an ascending team that has dominated at times Colts: in better position to get to the playoffs at the top seed in the AFC with Sauce on the team, significantly improving their defense to complement the NFL's highest scoring offense (only team with more than 300 points scored) Eagles: continue to improve talent; brought in Miami DE Jaelen Phillips and CB Jaire Alexander from Baltimore and slot CB Michael Carter II from the Jets; GM Howie Roseman class of the league Jaguars: acquire WR Jakobi Meyers from the Raiders to help add another weapon as they fight to make the playoffs Segment 4: Observations from around the league (30:50) How will the Jets learn from mistakes of the first half of the season? Make rookie TE Mason Taylor a bigger weapon on offense? How do the Browns position QB Sheder Sanders for a potential future trade despite no NFL regular season game tape? Can the Bengals win some games with QB Joe Flacco before star Joe Burrow returns from injury? What do the Colts do with former starting QB Anthony Richardson? Ravens expected to make a run at a division title after a very slow start and QB Lamar Jackson's hamstring injury Segment 5: The Challenges of Getting High Draft Picks Right, and the Travails of First Time Head Coaches learning on the job (41:30) Even great drafts don't guarantee GMs will last. Case in point: former Jets GM Joe Douglas hit the motherload with 2022 first round picks CB Sauce Gardner, WR Garrett Wilson, Edge Rusher Jermaine Johnson and second rounder RB Breece Hall. Then after continued losing, was gone two seasons later.  Trades for veteran QBs can backfire big time, especially teamed with a first time head coach not up to the job. Example: Denver trading for Russell Wilson. First time Head Coach Nathaniel Hackett went 4-11, the team was not competitive and was fired before finishing his first season Going down Jets memory lane of backup QBs One of the worst Jets draft picks of all time? A QB taken in the second round from Penn State who never played a down in the NFL in the regular season was ...