Darren Mougey admitted he was losing his voice — an understandable byproduct of his afternoon. The first-time general manager spent his first trade deadline pulling off two of the biggest outgoing moves in Jets franchise history.
First, it was all-world CBSauce Gardner to the Colts. Then, it was All-Pro DL Quinnen Williams to the Cowboys.
Mougey recouped a massive haul for both: three first-round picks, a second, DT Mazi Smith and WR AD Mitchell.
Now, though, the true pressure begins.
It’s nice having picks, but they don’t mean anything unless you turn them into players.
“These offers we just felt were too good for the team,” Mougey said.
Oh, what a difference a few months make. Back at the NFL Combine, coach Aaron Glenn said the Jets’ goal was to “win now.” Before training camp, the team made Gardner the highest-paid cornerback in the NFL and a cornerstone of its defense. Just before the regular season, teammates voted Williams a captain.
Now the Jets are 1-7. Gardner and Williams are gone.
The Gardner trade was the more surprising move. Mougey said the Colts simply made an offer that was too irresistible to pass up. Williams’ departure, meanwhile, was a long time coming. The Jets and Cowboys first discussed a deal before the season and never stopped talking. The big defensive tackle, who had soured on Glenn and the organization, eventually requested a trade. While the Jets initially rebuffed his requests, they relented Tuesday.
Here’s the thing: While the Jets got a ton back for Williams and Gardner, they had to lose Williams and Gardner to get it. There’s now a massive void at cornerback and along the interior defensive line — without any clear replacements near their talent level.
To make these trades worth it, two things must happen for the Jets: They have to find their quarterback, and they must replace Williams and Gardner with equal or greater players while continuing to round out the roster.
“The goal is always to win,” Mougey said.
There’s a devil’s advocate argument to be made. While Williams and Gardner are great players, the Jets won absolutely nothing with them. Moving on hurts jersey sales and fanfare, but the on-field product wasn’t good with them anyway. This is a chance to collect assets to improve it without them.
That’s the challenge for Mougey. No one expects the playoffs this year — obviously. Realistically, no one can expect them next year, either. His barometer is the on-field talent exceeding what it is now.
The quarterback is the top priority this offseason. Nothing else matters. Fernando Mendoza (Indiana), Ty Simpson (Alabama) and Dante Moore (Oregon) are the top three on most boards at the moment. The Jets will almost assuredly end up with one, barring a late-season surge that seems entirely improbable after the Gardner and Williams departures.
They can then continue to round out the roster with their second first-round selection, two seconds and multiple Day 3 picks.
It’s early, but the 2027 class is shaping up as one of the more loaded in years. Receivers Jeremiah Smith and Ryan Williams headline the group, along with players such as Dylan Stewart and Peter Woods. The Jets will have three first-round picks that year, along with two seconds and their own third.
Mougey has a chance to completely reshape the roster in his and Glenn’s vision. Hit on these picks, and he can set the Jets up for a legitimate, sustained run of success. Fail, though, and Tuesday will be viewed entirely differently.
The Jets traded two players they knew could play — both in their prime — for lottery tickets to draft others.
They better hope they hit.