Jets' trade deadline strategy could boil down to their next 3 games

The NFL trade deadline is rapidly approaching on November 10. As a result, rumblings about who may or may not be dealt begin around this time. Daniel Popper of The Athletic released his 2026 NFL trade deadline big board, and there was a New York Jet listed front and center.

Listed at No. 20 out of the top 50 most likely trade targets was Jets edge rusher Will McDonald. The thought of trading McDonald is not a new idea.

In fact, when the Jets went into the fire sale last year at the trade deadline, many believed McDonald would be a player the Jets tried to move. Instead, they held onto him and picked up his fifth-year option, putting the former first-round pick under contract with the Jets for both 2026 and 2027.

The decision to trade or to keep McDonald very well could come down to the next three games for the Jets.

What's the deciding factor for New York Jets at the trade deadline?

This isn't a simple decision for Darren Mougey. Looking at the numbers, McDonald has been very pedestrian for the Jets this season. He is playing just 47 percent of the snaps with two sacks, 13 pressures, and an 8.5-pressure percentage.

The decision to sell might end up coming down to the Jets' record before the trade deadline. New York plays three games before November 10. They're at home against the Miami Dolphins, at home against the Las Vegas Raiders, and then on the road against the Kansas City Chiefs.

At 2-4 currently, if the Jets lose their next three games and are 2-7 at the trade deadline, flipping the fourth-year edge rusher would likely make sense. However, if the Jets are 4-5, with their season still salvageable, would they want to sell one of their better pass rushers?

With a 4-5 record, the Jets could be talked into a chance at 6-6 heading into their bye week. With the uncertainty around Aaron Glenn's job for 2027, he may prefer to hang on to McDonald to give him the best chance to win games and save his job.

At 2-7, Glenn's a dead man walking. He knows where that story ends, so maybe at that point the Jets would be more willing to sell off whatever they can to try to load up in the NFL Draft in 2027 for their new coach and new direction.

This decision isn't as simple as deciding if McDonald is a building-block piece for you or not. It'll likely come down to whether the Jets think their season is salvageable or if this is another lost season flushed down the tubes.

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