In indicating he was unlikely to be traded at the deadline, Jermaine Johnson cited a recent conversation with Jets brass. But it appears the Aaron Glenn-Darren Mougey regime is still listening on the former first-round pick.
Although the Jets are not planning to move Will McDonald, Sports Illustrated’s Albert Breer notes they are still open to unloading Johnson — albeit for a price that might spook contending teams. The Jets are believed to want a second-round pick for the 2022 first-rounder, per Breer, on a player signed through 2026.
[RELATED: Glenn Against Trading Hall At Deadline]
This asking price is in the Breece Hall ballpark as well. Despite Hall being in a contract year, Breer adds the Jets are aiming for a Day 2 pick to move on now. No extension has been in the works, after the Jets tabled re-up talks on players not named Sauce Gardner and Garrett Wilson this summer, but a recent report indicated the team may be warming up to the idea of re-signing Hall. It is unsurprising the Jets are setting a Day 2 price, then, as news out of New York has indicated a high price is attached to the four-year starting RB.
It took a second-rounder for the Bears to pry Montez Sweat from the Commanders in 2023; a third-rounder came back (from the 49ers) for Chase Young. Both ex-first-round picks were in walk years at that point. Dante Fowler drew third- and fifth-round picks as a rental in 2018. Johnson’s profile is more on the Fowler level, having one productive season (2023) on his resume.
The Minneapolis-area native has just one season with more than 2.5 sacks; he posted 7.5 with 16 QB hits that year. His work this season — coming off an Achilles tear — leaves much to be desired, sitting at one sack and just two QB hits through five games played. This will make a second-rounder tough to fetch for Gang Green, pointing to either the team reducing the asking price or regrouping to see if Johnson ups his value ahead of the 2026 offseason.
Hall would likely be the RB prize at this deadline, one that has not seen big names — as Alvin Kamara has been dead set against leaving New Orleans — mentioned as trade candidates. The former second-rounder is on pace for his first 1,000-yard season and is averaging 5.0 yards per carry in his platform year. The Jets will need to decide if they are truly interested in re-signing the Iowa State product. Depending on their free agency activity and Hall’s 2026 FA value, the team also will need to weigh the compensatory component when determining if it pulls the trigger on a trade now.
Additionally, Breer points out linebacker Quincy Williams is available to be moved. Ditto D-end Micheal Clemons. A former first-team All-Pro whom the Joe Douglas-Robert Saleh duo was higher on compared to the current regime, Williams observed the Jets more than double his pay rate to re-sign less accomplished LB Jamien Sherwood this offseason.
That decision likely points Williams out of town come 2026, but he may be on the move sooner. His name has come up in previous trade rumors. Clemons qualifies as a lower-profile option, but the rotational rusher did tally 4.5 sacks in 2024. The contract-year rusher does not have any this season.
For the life of me, I can’t figure out how Breece Hall hasn’t become one of the best RBs in football. He’s a game changer when he has the ball. Is it bad O Line (ala Saquon) or bad play calling?
I have a feeling that wherever he goes, he’s going to be a monster.
Injuries and the jets are largely in negative game scripts and have terrible QBs. They can stack the box early, stuffing out any RB Jets could put back there because theyre not worried about Zach Wilson, Justin Fields, Trevor Semien, etc. and then the Jets are eventually down big and need to pass to have a chance. The oline isnt the problem this year, thats for sure.
Hes definitely a very good RB and if he were to go the Chiefs or Bears i think he’d have a lot of success
This. Look at the games(very few in fact) when jets aren’t in negative script. Breece easily does 15-18 carries for 95+ yards but jets are always in a damn deficit
The offensive line is pretty decent this year, but wasn’t before. Nathaniel Hackett was a bottom two play caller in football. The quarterback situation was terrible.
Zack Rosenblatt reports that the Jets have told Johnson he’s in their plans and that the Jets aren’t terribly inclined to trade Hall. I think seeking a day two pick means they’d have to be bowled over to trade either. In Johnson’s case, I don’t think a third round pick is a crazy return for a good young edge player with a fifth year option remaining.
Would not go more than a 4th for Hall but theres a lot of desperate awful gms out there that will likely give up a third
Both James Cook and Kyren Williams came out of the same draft after Hall and are better RBs so the Jets ask is not going to be met.