Quinnen Williams was traded to the Dallas Cowboys, bringing back a first-round pick in 2027, a second-round pick in 2026, and defensive tackle Mazi Smith, a young player with upside in the trenches. The acquisition of John Metchie III, a wide receiver, also adds depth to the Jets' offense as they look toward future drafts to build a new core.​

General maanger Darren Mougey is rebuilding from the ground up. That's undeniably the motivation behind trading cornerback Sauce Gardner and Williams for a combined three first-round picks. With the Jets spending the rest of the 2025 season sorting through their roster, Smith should receive a sizable opportunity to play.

Given that the Jets now have five first-round selections over the next two years, many have begun to wonder what the front office will do with all those assets.

The Jets took Garrett Wilson with the 10th pick in the 2022 NFL Draft, six picks after selecting Sauce Gardner. In July, both players signed nine-figure extensions, seemingly signaling their importance to the franchise’s next chapter.

New York's trade deadline deals netted them extra picks in the first two rounds of the 2026 NFL Draft. Here's how they could use them.

All the losing in New York built up for star defensive tackle Quinnen Williams, whose six-plus seasons with the Jets didn’t include a single winning campaign. After Tuesday’s trade to the Cowboys, the

But as we know, tearing down is the easy part. It's what comes next that defines legacies, and Mougey will have a rare opportunity over the next two offseasons to finally get the Jets back into contention. Just how might he do it? Here's everything to know, from where New York's draft picks currently stand to team needs and future targets.

The New York Jets decided to shock the NFL world at the trade deadline when they moved Sauce Gardner and Quinnen Williams for a slew of top draft picks. The Jet