The New York Jets were one of the teams active at the 2024 NFL trade deadline.
The Jets (3-6) ended their experiment with wide receiver Mike Williams, trading him to the Pittsburgh Steelers.
Most point to two reasons as to why the Jets agreed to ship out Williams.
First, he was behind the eight ball due to his late arrival as he continued to recover from a 2023 ACL injury with the Los Angeles Chargers throughout most of the offseason. Other players got more involved in New York’s offense in that time.
And then, naturally, the Jets’ trade in the opposite direction which landed All-Pro receiver Davante Adams in New York.
Like others, Jets general manager Joe Douglas pointed to these reasons why he decided to ship Williams to Pittsburgh.
“This is a great opportunity for him to have a fresh start,” Douglas told reporters on Wednesday. ” It’s a move we wouldn’t have made had we not felt good about the guys we have in the room.”
“Us acquiring a player like Davante gives us the flexibility,” he added.
The Jets ended up landed a 2025 fifth-round draft pick for Williams in the trade.
Here are four more takeaways from Douglas’ interview following the 2024 NFL trade deadline:
Robert Saleh’s dismissal
When the Jets fired head coach Robert Saleh, team owner Woody Johnson was the one in the spotlight answering for the decision. Johnson did note that Douglas was in the know but the final say was from the owner.
New York’s GM continued to toe that party line when asked about Saleh’s dismissal, saying: “I don’t really have anything to add.”
“All my energy, all of my focus has been on doing whatever I can to help Brick, his staff & the locker room turn this thing around. So that’s kind of where I’m at.”
“I know Woody spoke afterwards, I don’t really have anything to add”
Joe Douglas was asked about Robert Saleh’s firing: pic.twitter.com/mReLcLLfE1
— Jets Videos (@snyjets) November 6, 2024
Jeff’s review
Saleh was out and Jeff Ulbrich was in. The defensive coordinator was named interim head coach.
So far, “Brick” has the Douglas seal of approval.
The GM referenced that he likes the experience that Ulbrich has both as a coach and former NFL player:
“He has a unique ability to make really authentic connections with everyone”
Joe Douglas on Jeff Ulbrich: pic.twitter.com/fQpvM7ci9C
— Jets Videos (@snyjets) November 6, 2024
His personal future
With Saleh gone, could Douglas be next to go if the Jets don’t improve?
Douglas said he’s not worrying about that at the present time. That’s the expected answer:
“Whatever happens, happens.”
Joe Douglas was asked if he has thought about his future with the Jets: pic.twitter.com/ODxVEQMeY5
— Jets Videos (@snyjets) November 6, 2024
Sitting at 3-6
Like everyone else at 1 Jets Drive, Douglas did not imagine his team would be sitting at a 3-6 record at this point in the season. Douglas did express some belief moving forward, though… and credited Ulbrich in the process:
“Not where anyone envisioned us being right now at 3-6 coming out of training camp”
Joe Douglas talks about the Jets’ tough start to the season: pic.twitter.com/aiKAX9NokZ
— Jets Videos (@snyjets) November 6, 2024
