Breaking down the biggest moves from the 2025 NFL trade deadline
USA TODAY Sports’ Prince Grimes recaps the biggest moves from the 2025 NFL trade deadline.
The NFL trade deadline was on Tuesday evening, and there was no bigger story than the New York Jets.
At 1-7, the Jets were anticipated to be sellers, moving off some popular names like running back Breece Hall — a free agent at the end of this season — and linebackers Quincy Williams and Jermaine Johnson just to name a few.
Instead, the Jets front office went a different route.
General manager Darren Mougey and the front office traded both franchise pillars and fan favorites in cornerback Sauce Gardner and defensive tackle Quinnen Williams, clearly shifting the identity of this team to 2026 and beyond.
Now stockpiled with draft picks for the 2026 and 2027 NFL Draft, the Jets will move forward shorthanded on talent defensively without Williams in the trenches and Gardner patrolling the outside against every team’s No. 1 wide receiver.
How will this new-look Jets team perform with two cornerstone pieces out the door and some disgruntled players staying put?
We find out Sunday afternoon in East Rutherford when they welcome the Cleveland Browns (2-6) to MetLife Stadium.
Our prognosticators throughout the 2025 season are: Art Stapleton (Giants/NFL writer, NorthJersey.com), Bert Bainbridge (sports trending reporter/columnist, NorthJersey.com), Brian Marron (digital producer, NorthJersey.com), Chris Iseman (Rutgers writer, NorthJersey.com), Bob Jordan (sports editor, Asbury Park Press/APP.com) and Dave Rivera (sports editor, USA TODAY Northeast/NorthJersey.com).
Jets vs Browns NFL Week 10 predictions, staff standings
Dave Rivera: 6-2
Art Stapleton: 6-2
Chris Iseman: 6-2
Brian Marron: 6-2
Bob Jordan: 6-2
Bert Bainbridge: 5-2
Here are our staff predictions for Jets vs. Browns in Week 10 at MetLife:
Bert Bainbridge
The pick: Browns 24, Jets 13
Here’s why: It’s clearer more than ever that the direction of the Jets is for 2026 and beyond. Trading two of your best defensive players will make it hard for the offense without many weapons to keep up, even against the Browns with rookie QB Dillon Gabriel.
Even if wide receiver Garrett Wilson returns from a knee injury that kept him out the last two games, it’s gonna be hard for the Jets’ offense to put many points on the board versus a dominant Browns defense that had former NFL Defensive Player of the Year have five sacks in a single game prior to their Week 9 bye.
It’ll be a low-scoring affair again at MetLife, with the Jets losing their eighth game and having to prepare for a short week on the road against the division leading Patriots on Thursday night in Foxboro.
Bob Jordan
The pick: Browns 38, Jets 10
Here’s why: The Jets blew it up but nine weeks too late.
Brian Marron
The pick: Browns 20, Jets 9
Here’s why: In a battle of putrid offenses, the Browns should at least have a distinct advantage on one side of the ball. Cleveland ranks second in the NFL in yards allowed per game, and the Jets just traded arguably their two best defensive players. The Browns should be able shut down the Jets’ offense and win an ugly game.
Dave Rivera
The pick: Browns 27, Jets 13
Here’s why: No Sauce. No Quinnen. No problem, right? Maybe someday, but not this Sunday.