Jets reportedly open to trading one of the fan base's least favorite players

The New York Jets are exploring their options ahead of next week's NFL trade deadline. At 1-7, the Jets are open to trading a number of notable players on their roster, especially if said players are on expiring contracts.

But while much of the attention has centered on names like Breece Hall and Quincy Williams, the Jets are reportedly open to moving a lower-profile player — one fans likely wouldn’t mind seeing go.

Sports Illustrated’s Albert Breer reported Friday that Jets defensive end Micheal Clemons has been made “available” in trade discussions. Breer added that the same applies to Quincy Williams and defensive end Jermaine Johnson, though the team is reportedly seeking a second-round pick in return for Johnson.

It obviously wouldn't cost nearly as much to convince the Jets to move Clemons, who is in the final year of his rookie contract. In fact, it would be a surprise if the Jets received much of anything in return for the former Texas A&M standout.

Jets have made Micheal Clemons available in trade talks

A fourth-round pick in the 2022 NFL Draft, Clemons has appeared in 57 games for the Jets over the past four seasons and has often made more headlines for his costly on-field mistakes than for his actual play.

Clemons has drawn the ire of Jets fans — some of it warranted, some not — for his repeated personal foul penalties and inconsistent play. His struggles have been magnified by the fact that he’s been overexposed and asked to take on a larger role than he’s likely capable of handling.

Clemons started all 17 games for the Jets in 2024 and has played a career-high 55 percent of defensive snaps in eight games so far this season. The uptick in playing time has coincided with a noticeable drop in his performance.

Still, Clemons has shown flashes of being an NFL-caliber bottom-of-the-roster defensive end when allowed to play a rotational role. His athletic limitations will always hold him back, but he's a big-bodied rotational edge with starting experience.

That alone could generate interest from teams looking to bolster their defensive line depth ahead of the No. 4 trade deadline. Of course, it likely wouldn't take more than a late Day 3 pick or a swap of picks to get a deal done — the Jets aren't exactly looking at a potential haul here.

Clemons is set to be a free agent in a few months, and the Jets would probably be better off looking to external options as they attempt to improve their defensive end room in the offseason.

Fellow Jets edge rushers Jermaine Johnson and Will McDonald have also drawn trade interest, although the team is unlikely to part ways with either, barring a significant haul. Braiden McGregor and rookie Tyler Baron are the only other defensive ends on the active roster.

If the Jets are able to get anything in return for the much-maligned Clemons, who is likely playing out his final few games with the organization, that should be seen as a win.