NY Jets rejecting Bryce Huff trade offers...for now

The NY Jets have reportedly received numerous trade inquiries regarding defensive end Bryce Huff, per uSTADIUM. To this point, however, the Jets have rejected every offer.

That's good news for a Jets team hoping to compete for a Super Bowl this season. It wouldn't make much sense to trade away arguably the team's best pass rusher before the season even begins.

That said, this doesn't mean the Jets are looking to keep Huff around long-term. In fact, as ESPN's Jeremy Fowler points out, this probably has more to do with the Jets expecting to receive greater compensation in the form of a compensatory draft pick next spring.

Huff is slated to be a free agent at the end of this season, and if he continues to impress as a pass rusher, he could be in line for a hefty payday. The Jets know this and are fully aware that this could mean they receive compensation in the form of a draft pick, perhaps as high as a third-rounder.

Whatever offers the Jets are receiving, they're likely not higher than what the team anticipates they will receive in the form of compensation next offseason.

Bryce Huff's future with the NY Jets remains uncertain

Huff was, quite literally, the most efficient pass rusher in the NFL last season. His 22 percent pressure rate ranked first among all qualified edge rushers and defensive linemen. He registered a whopping 36 pressures on just 173 pass-rush snaps.

His 25.6 pass-rush win rate, per Pro Football Focus, was also far and away the best among qualified edge rushers. Only three other players — Myles Garrett, Nick Bosa, and Brandon Graham — even topped 20 percent, and no one else was higher than 22.5 percent.

Yes, Huff was deployed almost exclusively as a situational pass rusher, but that shouldn't take away from his downright absurd efficiency and productivity. Unfortunately, it seems likely that the Jets are preparing for him to walk next offseason.

The selection of Will McDonald in the first round of the 2023 NFL Draft not only cuts into Huff's projected playing time this season but also significantly decreases the odds that he will be on the roster in 2024.

McDonald fills Huff's role. Jermaine Johnson and John Franklin-Myers will both likely be back next season, and the same goes for Micheal Clemons. If Huff puts together another productive year, it's hard to imagine the Jets matching what another team is willing to pay him.

Not to mention, Huff likely wants to go someplace he could start. He's been buried on the depth chart in New York for years — an opportunity for more playing time is out there.

The Jets don't want to trade Huff at this time, at least partially because he helps them win now. His presence is even more important given the back injury that Carl Lawson has been dealing with.

Still, a large reason why the Jets are holding onto Huff appears to be related to compensation. They may not be moving on just yet, but that doesn't mean he's a part of their plans beyond this season.