noti.group’s Brian Costello answers the burning questions left after the Jets’ trade deadline day sell-off:
Why would the Jets trade two of their best players?
Cue “The Godfather” music. The Jets got offers they could not refuse. That is what Jets general manager Darren Mougey basically said. The Jets were not shopping Sauce Gardner and Quinnen Williams but could not pass on what the Colts and Cowboys offered them. The reality is the Jets have done a lot of losing with those players on the roster and the Jets now are armed with picks to make big moves this offseason.
Did Gardner and Williams request a trade?
Gardner just signed a contract extension with the Jets and was happy with the team. Williams was not as happy. He spent seven years of losing with Gang Green and he was not interested in being part of another rebuild. It’s unclear if he formally requested a trade, but the Jets (and the NFL) knew he would welcome one.
Gardner has been a standout at a premium position and is only 25 years old. Why not keep him as part of a rebuild?
You have to trade good players to get good picks. The Jets received two first-round picks for Gardner. That kind of package does not come along too often. Mougey now has picks to chase a franchise quarterback.
[Notigroup Newsroom in collaboration with other media outlets, with information from the following sources]
