NY Jets trade OLB/DE Jordan Willis to the San Francisco 49ers

The NY Jets have traded backup pass-rusher Jordan Willis to the San Francisco 49ers.

The NY Jets continued the fire sale that’s “not a fire sale” by trading away backup pass-rusher Jordan Willis to the San Francisco 49ers in exchange for a swap of future late-round picks.

As first reported by NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero, the Jets are sending Willis and a 2021 seventh-round pick to the 49ers in exchange for a 2022 sixth-round pick.

In reality, that’s not much of a net positive — if one at all — but it’s a trade nonetheless.

Following the trade of Steve McLendon, a number of names instantly came to mind as players the team could look to shop in the near future. Guys like Marcus Maye, Quinnen Williams, and even Brian Poole were considered possible trade candidates.

Jordan Willis, on the other hand, not so much.

Willis was originally a third-round pick of the Cincinnati Bengals back in 2017. And after failing to do much of anything in his first two seasons, the Bengals released him at the beginning of the 2019 season.

The Jets swooped in and claimed him off waivers and he spent pretty much the entirety of last season as a reserve pass-rusher/special-teamer for Gang Green.

In nine games, Willis managed one sack and seven total tackles, but he was a healthy scratch for around half the season. That trend continued over into 2020.

Jordan Willis was a non-factor with the NY Jets in 2020.

Willis made the 53-man roster this season and surprisingly played a sizable role in Week 1 playing 40 percent of defensive snaps. But after failing to do much of anything, he was a healthy scratch the following week.

The former Kansas State standout would play in just one more game this season serving as a healthy inactive in four of the Jets’ six contests including their last three.

For that reason, it’s shocking that any team would have even wanted to trade for Willis. But looking at the compensation, neither team really gains very much.

Willis likely won’t be the last Jets player moved in the coming days/weeks as we approach next month’s trade deadline.

Although when all is said and done, he might go down as the most unlikely player to be dealt this trade season.