New York Jets superstar wide receiver Garrett Wilson must feel like the last man standing after a historic NFL trade deadline day at Florham Park. The Jets fully committed to a teardown rebuild, trading cornerback Sauce Gardner to the Indianapolis Colts and defensive tackle Quinnen Williams to the Dallas Cowboys. A payoff will eventually arrive if Wilson has the patience to stick this through and not request a trade this offseason.
The Jets acquired three first-round picks, a second-round pick, and two players with untapped potential in exchange for Gardner and Williams. General manager Darren Mougey now possesses five total first-round selections in the 2026 and 2027 NFL Drafts. The Jets could field an incredibly competitive team in 2027 if all goes according to plan.
Spoke to a team that called the #Jets recently about WR Garrett Wilson. With Sauce Gardner dealt, feeling around the NFL is anyone can be had.
— Connor Hughes (@Connor_J_Hughes) November 4, 2025
Not the case with Wilson. Conversations did not progress. He's untouchable.
The Jets are well-positioned to draft a franchise quarterback in 2026. It's been painfully obvious this season that Justin Fields isn't their signal-caller of the future. The 1-7 Jets are currently slated for the No. 3 selection. It's a three-team race to No. 1 overall with the New Orleans Saints and Tennessee Titans.
If the Jets don't clinch the No. 1 selection, they'll possess the capital required to acquire it via trade if the pick is available. There aren't many winnable games remaining on the Jets' schedule, and trading Gardner and Williams makes them significantly worse. They can position themselves for Ty Simpson, Dante Moore, or Fernando Mendoza in April, if they wish.
If the Jets manage to land their preferred quarterback in 2026, they can then attack the 2027 draft with three first-round selections. A look ahead suggests the 2027 class possesses a historic amount of talent. Imagine pairing Mendoza with Wilson and Jeremiah Smith or Ryan Williams. Now we're talking.
Wilson signed a four-year, $130 million contract extension with the Jets in July. On Tuesday, we learned that it doesn't necessarily guarantee anything. Gardner signed a similar extension one day after Wilson, but was still traded. Mougey tends to structure these contracts in a way that makes them movable, compared to most NFL multi-year deals worth more than $120 million.
Wilson would be met with widespread interest on the market if he wanted to request a trade this offseason. Meanwhile, the Jets appear committed to building an exciting and sustainable offense. If Wilson remains patient, he could be playing with a quarterback and another receiver that allows offensive coordinator Tanner Engstrand to field an explosive unit.
The Jets tried the whole top-five defense thing in previous seasons. It didn't lead to sustained success. It's no coincidence that two defensive players, Gardner and Williams, were sacrificed to acquire 2026 and 2027 draft capital. Meanwhile, offensive talents like Wilson and even Breece Hall (on an expiring contract) were retained. The Jets are looking to revamp this offense around Wilson with their future draft picks.
The Jets dominated headlines during the NFL Trade Deadline. Wilson is surely disappointed to see Gardner and Williams depart, but the long-term vision is solid. If Wilson can resist the temptation to request a trade himself this offseason, he'll be glad he chose to stick around.