New York Jets: Top 3 trades the team should avoid ahead of the deadline

The New York Jets are going to be a hot name near the NFL trade deadline. Here are the top 3 trades that they should avoid making.

The New York Jets snagged their first win of the 2019 season and quarterback Sam Darnold has brought renewed life to the fanbase. All of this positivity has fans thinking this team can go on a legitimate run through the final three-quarters of the season.

To do that the team may need some additional help at some key areas on the team. With the 2020 NFL Draft months away and the free-agent market barren, there’s only one realistic option for the team to strongly consider: the NFL trade deadline.

The deadline is coming up on Tuesday, October 29 at 4:00 p.m. eastern time, per the NFL Operations Manual.

Although despite the positivity flowing around 1 Jets Drive, this team is far from one piece away. This means it would be foolish for the team to push all their chips into the middle of the table for one piece to try and push them over the top.

If anything the Jets should consider being sellers at the deadline for some of their players that are in the last year of their deals. Although if the team does decide to make a move at the trade deadline, here are three trades the New York Jets should absolutely avoid.

Next: A superstar WR

One of the sexiest names that is perceived to be available on the block for the right price is Minnesota Vikings wide receiver, Stefon Diggs.

Trade rumors have been swirling around him due to his unexcused absence at Vikings practice a few weeks ago. That then led to an awkward press conference where Diggs said he didn’t ask for a trade, but he was uncertain whether his agent did.

There is a lot to like about Diggs: he’s young (25 years old), is locked in through at least 2023, and can bring a home run threat to any offense.

Stefon just signed a record-breaking contract extension (five years $72 million, over $40 million guaranteed). While in theory, it would be very difficult to move that contract considering all the dead money. Although as we saw with the Odell Beckham Jr trade during the 2019 offseason, any contract can be moved.

Some of the trade talks have also fizzled with Diggs’ latest performance on Sunday (seven receptions for 167 yards and three touchdowns). Most of his complaints stemmed from the Vikings not getting him the ball enough.

But the main reason the Jets should stay clear is because of the perceived cost. Dallas Cowboys wide receiver Amari Cooper set the market last season when he was dealt for a first-round draft choice.

Both players have very similar comparisons from age, to size, to potential. So that kind of trade seems to make sense, but that’s too rich for the green and white.

Robby Anderson proved on Sunday that he’s more than capable of being a low-end No. 1 wide receiver or high-end No. 2. The Jets need to invest their premium picks in other positions, not at wide receiver.

Next: Super Bowl champion pass rusher

What’s not to like?

100.5 sacks, 26 forced fumbles, 203 quarterback hits, and has recorded double-digit sack seasons in 7 out of 9 years in the league. Von Miller is also a former Super Bowl champion.

While all of that sounds very nice, there’s one troubling number that is impossible to overlook: Von Miller is 30 years old and will be 31 by the start of the 2020 NFL season.

So what would it cost the Jets in theory to acquire the future Pro Football Hall of Famer?

“For starters, the return would likely be huge. If the Oakland Raiders’ trade of Khalil Mack to the Chicago Bears is any indication, Denver would probably land multiple first-round picks,” per Mike Chiari of Bleacher Report.

The market was also seemingly set when Khalil Mack was dealt from the Oakland Raiders to the Chicago Bears. Although it’s important to note that Mack was only 27 years old when he was acquired by the Bears, which is significant.

The specifics of that trade featured: two future first-round picks, a third-round pick, and a sixth-round draft choice.

Combining the likely draft capital and age this is a deal the Jets would be foolish to pull the trigger on. This team is another year away from truly contending and Miller is only getting older.

While this is a premium need for the green and white, they’d be better served to go through the 2020 NFL Draft or future free agency to find their pass rusher of the future.

Next: Avoid a Jets reunion

Why would the New York Jets even entertain something like this?

While Sam Darnold has returned to the team, impressively at that, this team needs a veteran presence as the No. 2 quarterback.

We saw how the Luke Falk era worked out in Darnold’s absence. A snot-nosed kid who arguably shouldn’t even be in the NFL got his shot at leading an NFL franchise and failed miserably.

In his defense, the offensive line didn’t do him many favors, but his propensity to hold onto the ball too long ultimately cost him.

With Trevor Siemian on the shelf for the year (broken ankle), the Jets are missing a reliable veteran backup.

You can fault Ryan Fitzpatrick for a lot of things, but he’s proven capable of stepping in a pinch to help out the squad.

During the offseason, he signed a two-year $11 million contract with the Miami Dolphins. There’s an out clause after this season which would result in $1.5 million in dead cap, per Spotrac.

While this seemingly makes a ton of sense and the cost wouldn’t be prohibitive, the team should ultimately avoid this maneuver. Fitzpatrick burned a bridge when he left the first time. He consistently threw the team under the bus and whined like a baby in 2016 when things didn’t work out and the team couldn’t dump him quick enough after the season.

Sam Darnold is clearly the answer for the New York Jets, so they don’t need some clown show coming in to ruin his development. Although in hindsight Fitzpatrick wouldn’t be such a horrible addition, the coaching staff could suggest to Darnold to study everything Ryan does and do the exact opposite and that would likely work out beautifully.