Back on Nov. 4, the Jets two trades of Sauce Gardner to the Colts and Quinton Williams to the Cowboys not only signaled the start of yet another rebuild for the team, but it also ended the illusion that the Jets were close to competing.

The last couple of years the media sensed that the Jets were “a quarterback away,” but that was all a lie. At first fans blamed Zach Wilson, the number 2 overall pick in the 2021 draft, saying he was the problem. Before that, Sam Darnold was the problem, which could not be further from the truth as we see from his time in Minnesota and Seattle.  

 So, the Jets made a splash and traded for 4-time MVP Aaron Rodgers to finally be the missing piece on a Jets roster that needed a QB. But after a first season that ended after three plays and a torn achilles and a second season with just a 5-12 record, the fans and media yet again said Aaron Rodgers is the problem. With new quarterback Justin Fields struggling and just a 2-8 record, it’s evident that none of these players were the problem.  

 These two trades that the Jets made are a stepping stone in a new direction for the franchise who have not made the playoffs since 2010. While there was reason for fans to be upset, losing two-all pros who were homegrown talents, these two trades signal better days ahead for the Jets to get back into the playoffs.  

 It seems like for once, the Jets have clarity. The Jets the last handful of years have a playoff caliber defense but an offense that struggled to consistently move the ball. While these two trades might hurt New York in this season and the next, it sets them up to be able to reset and compete in the future. 

 Right now, the draft capital matters to the Jets in their current team situation and they were able to get a handful of first round picks in these trades. The Jets also gain salary cap flexibility after getting rid of the big contracts of Gardner and Williams. Lastly, these trades finally quiets the whispers that the Jets are close to competing or the unrealistic expectations that they were one player away. 

 While the success of these trades depends on where the Jets go from here and who they select in the next couple of drafts, the Jets are finally taking accountability and are being honest, and that’s the correct first step that the Jets have to take if they want to be able to get back to competing.