Jets’ surprise trade already looks like Darren Mougey’s first masterstroke

New York Jets general manager Darren Mougey took one look at the state of the team's defensive line this summer and realized that changes needed to be made before the start of the 2025 season.

Mougey acted quickly, acquiring a pair of defensive tackles in trades a few days before final roster cuts. The most notable addition came in the form of veteran NFL nose tackle Harrison Phillips.

Phillips made his debut for the Jets in Sunday's 34-32 loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers, and while his production didn't immediately stand out, it was the impact his presence had on another Jets star that made the trade look like an immediate win.

Quinnen Williams had one of the best games of his entire NFL career in Week 1, and it's no coincidence that it came with Phillips — a big-bodied block and space eater — lining up alongside him.

The Jets' Harrison Phillips trade may have unlocked Quinnen Williams

For starters, Williams finally saw a significant workload on defense. He played 77% of the Jets’ snaps in Week 1 — a far cry from the 64% he averaged over the last four years under the previous regime.

That increased playing time clearly didn't mitigate his impact. Williams finished with a 92.0 Pro Football Focus grade in Week 1, the second-highest mark of his entire NFL career. His 93.0 PFF run defense grade was the highest among all players at any position this week.

Williams led the Jets with five pressures, two QB hits, and a sack, and also paced all defensive players in football with five total run stops. This was complete and utter domination from the former All-Pro defensive tackle.

Williams has made three straight Pro Bowls and was the only Jets player named to the NFL's player-voted top-100 list this summer. He remains one of the best defensive tackles in pro football, but it's safe to say his 2024 season was a bit underwhelming

After recording consecutive PFF grades of 90.0+ in 2022 and 2023, Williams plummeted to a mediocre 69.6 this past season. His pressure total dropped from 70 to 54, his run stops from 42 to 23, and he missed a whopping 26.8% of his tackle attempts.

The Jets know what Williams is capable of, and despite his dip in 2024 efficiency, he's still one of the best players at his position. But if Week 1 is any indication, the Phillips trade might have just unlocked the 2022 and 2023 All-Pro version of Williams again.

The Jets initially signed Derrick Nnadi to handle the space-eating 1-tech role in the middle of their defense, with the hope he could help Williams reach his ceiling again. Instead, it’s Phillips who has stepped in to fill that role.

Harrison Phillips’ value this season won’t be measured in sacks or tackles, but in the hidden impact he has on Quinnen Williams, eating blocks and creating space for the Jets’ All-Pro defensive tackle to dominate.

Mougey might've cooked with this one.

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