3 players Jets may need to consider selling at trade deadline if losing continues

The New York Jets' strong start to the season has been nullified after three straight losses dropped them to 1-3 on the campaign, and fans are wondering if another deadline sell-off could be coming.

The Jets may not be able to pull off a Sauce Gardner-like heist this year, as a good chunk of their roster consists of veterans on short-term deals. The few tradable players they have could generate some interest around the league.

With a few more losses, these three Jets could see their time in New York come to an unceremonious end.

3 players New York Jets may need to consider selling at trade deadline

3. DT Harrison Phillips

Phillips brings so much to the team as a locker room leader, but the Week 4 drubbing against Chicago illustrated that the Jets may have gotten about as much juice out of this proverbial orange as possible. Phillips already brought minimal to the table as a pass rusher, and now even the run defense is faltering.

Teams looking for depth and running a scheme that is a bit more favorable to someone with Phillips' unique skill set may be willing to kick the Jets a late Day 3 pick to acquire him. With New York likely needing to once again hit the reset button on their defensive line, Phillips likely isn't staying for 2027.

A respected veteran, Phillips deserves the chance to chase a title as his career ticks down.

2. CB Brandon Stephens

Stephens has made up for an up-and-down 2025 season with a fairly impressive start to 2026. However, the Jets' cornerback room of the future is built around Azareye'h Thomas and rookie D'Angelo Ponds, and that could lead to Stephens not lasting the full three years of his contract.

Stephens has played his way into being a somewhat desirable asset, which is a far cry from a player who was not very good during his final season in Baltimore and started off on the wrong foot with this fanbase. Still, if the Jets are bad again, they might need to consider going full-send on letting the rookies develop.

1. EDGE Will McDonald IV

Even with the Jets' pass rush floundering, McDonald has shown very little that would suggest he should be a part of the team's long-term future. The switch to a 3-4 front and more favorable game scripts should have helped McDonald take flight, but he looks like the same player he always has been.

McDonald will single-handedly wreck a game by constantly getting in the backfield, then doing nothing for almost a month, and repeating the process. Since the win against Tennessee in Week 1, McDonald has had two pressures. Improvements to his previously league-worst run defense are not enough to save him.

McDonald has enough talent to help the Jets possibly get a mid-round pick back for his services. While he hasn't been a bad player, his legacy in New York will always be "the guy the Jets drafted over Jaxon Smith-Njigba" due to his roller-coaster play.

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