5 more players the New York Jets should trade before the deadline

1. QB Sam Darnold

As the Jets move toward having the first overall pick in the 2021 draft, and drafting Clemson quarterback Trevor Lawrence, questions about Darnold’s future are clear and natural. The team has a decision to make on his fifth-year option by the spring, and a new head coach will surely have some say in that decision.

The Darnold situation with the Jets is moving the direction of the situation his draft classmate Josh Rosen had with the Arizona Cardinals. Rosen, the 10th overall pick in 2018, was pushed aside for 2019 No. 1 pick Kyler Murray. He was eventually traded to the Miami Dolphins, who have since released him and he’s currently on the Tampa Bay Buccaneers’ practice squad.

After missing time last year with mono, a right shoulder injury has cost Darnold two games this season. He may be able to play in Week 7, but it makes the most sense for the Jets to not play him unless he’s absolutely 100 percent healthy. Joe Flacco should be left in to start and lose games until further notice. We’re talking about the Jets though, and Gase hasn’t shown keen awareness when it comes to dealing with injuries this season.

A team that would trade for Darnold before the deadline would do so with an automatic eye on him contributing in 2021. With their own eye on 2021 and the inevitability they’ll replace him, the Jets should take mercy on Darnold and move him along to a better situation if there are trade offers out there before Nov. 3.