NY Jets: 3 most surprising players who were not traded at the deadline

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NY Jets Mandatory Credit: Vincent Carchietta-USA TODAY Sports

The NY Jets surprisingly opted not to trade these three players ahead of the deadline.

The NY Jets made quite a few moves in the weeks leading up to the trade deadline, but when it came to the day of the deadline, they opted to stay rather quiet.

While the likes of Steve McLendon, Jordan Willis, and Avery Williamson were all sent packing in the days leading up to the trade deadline, no one else joined them after that point.

All around the NFL, it was a rather dull trade deadline with teams more concerned with the uncertainty surrounding the future cap situation. For that reason, we didn’t see many — or really any — notable trades.

In fact, with three trades all hovering around the deadline period, you could argue that the Jets were the most active team. Still, that doesn’t mean that there weren’t a few players who fans expected to be moved that still remain on the team.

Plenty of rumors swirled in the weeks leading up to the deadline that a host of players could be on the move. Whether the Jets were blatantly shopping players or simply fielding offers, it was clear that almost everyone was on the table.

But when the dust settled, only three players were traded and none on the day of the deadline. We take a look at three players who are surprisingly still Jets after the trade deadline has passed.

Next: 3. Quincy Wilson

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NY Jets Mandatory Credit: Vincent Carchietta-USA TODAY Sports

3. Quincy Wilson, CB, NY Jets

Quincy Wilson was one of four names mentioned by Sports Illustrated’s Albert Breer last week when discussing players the Jets had received calls about.

Along with George Fant, Chuma Edoga, and Avery Williamson, Wilson seemed like a prime candidate to be traded or at the very least garner some interest.

But despite all four players receiving some leaguewide interest, only the latter, Williamson, was ultimately traded. And of the remaining three, Wilson is probably the most surprising.

Fant and Edoga received interest, but the Jets were likely hesitant to move on from either given their already-thin offensive line. They didn’t have the luxury of depth to trade either of them.

The same was not true of the cornerback position.

Wilson has been relegated to a healthy scratch in his last three games and hasn’t played a single defensive snap since Week 2.

The Jets have an abundance of cornerbacks with the likes of Blessuan Austin, Pierre Desir, Lamar Jackson, Javelin Guidry, and Arthur Maulet all ahead of Wilson on the depth chart. Not to mention the inevitable return of firth-round pick Bryce Hall.

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You’d have to figure that if the Jets received anything even remotely of value that they would have traded Wilson. And considering he reportedly drew some interest, it’s pretty surprising that he’s still here.

Wilson’s name may have flown a little under-the-radar this trade season, but he seemed like as sure of a bet to be traded as anyone. Alas, it never came to be.

Next: 2. Jordan Jenkins

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2. Jordan Jenkins, OLB, NY Jets

Mere hours before the 4 p.m. ET deadline, it was reported by Manish Mehta of the NY Daily News that the Jets were involved in trade discussions regarding outside linebacker Jordan Jenkins.

A trade never came to fruition, primarily because, according to Mehta, the Jets’ asking price was too high.

While it’s unclear how true those rumors are, it does make sense that Jenkins was a player on the trade block this fall. It’s been a disappointing season for Jenkins and given that he’s on the final year of his contract, it always made sense that the Jets were trying to trade him.

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Much like Wilson, this is a player they would have been able to afford to part ways with.

The Jets’ edge-rush depth chart is hardly anything to be impressed with, but Jenkins hasn’t done much of anything this season. With just one sack and nine tackles through eight games, Jenkins has graded out as one of the worst edge defenders in the NFL, per Pro Football Focus.

At this point, the Jets would probably be better-served playing guys like Bryce Huff, Tarell Basham, and even third-round rookie Jabari Zuniga at stand-up edge rusher as opposed to Jenkins who, in all likelihood, won’t be back next year.

If the Jets received anything of at least moderate value, they should have jumped at the offer. It’s unlikely his market was brimming with potential offers, but clearly there was some interest.

For that reason, it’s surprising that Jenkins is still with the Jets now that the deadline has passed.

Next: 1. Brian Poole

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NY Jets [ALLEN EYESTONE/The Palm Beach Post]

1. Brian Poole, CB, NY Jets

Both Wilson and Jenkins are players who weren’t expected to have much of a market. After all, it’s not as if either is exactly lighting up the stat sheet in 2020.

Brian Poole, on the other hand, is a different story.

After a standout 2019 season that saw him finish as a top-10 cornerback in the NFL, per PFF, the former undrafted free agent is on pace to repeat his success.

Currently ranked as PFF’s No. 9 cornerback, Poole has followed up his surprising 2019 campaign with an equally as effective 2020 proving that he was no one-year wonder.

Yet, despite his massive success, Poole reportedly didn’t garner much interest on the trade market. That’s surprising given his now two consecutive seasons of stellar play.

Poole returned on just a one-year, $5 million contract hoping to parlay his success into a big payday next offseason. And given his performance this year, it’s safe to say that he’s in-line for a substantial raise this spring.

Could that be with the Jets? It’s possible, but they certainly weren’t opposed to trading him and recouping some assets either. At 28-years-old, it could be somewhat dangerous to invest a long-term contract into Poole.

It’s not entirely shocking that he’s still with the Jets past the deadline, but it’s more so shocking how little interest he received.

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Perhaps that just speaks to the value, or lack thereof, that teams put into the slot cornerback position.

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