The New York Jets lost to the Kansas City Chiefs in Week 9 and are now heading towards the 2026 NFL trade deadline with a 2-7 record.
It would stand to reason that this team is selling, but with players like Garrett Wilson and Breece Hall not likely to be dealt, the focus will shift to more realistic targets. One of those targets, edge rusher Will McDonald IV, requested a trade Monday morning.
However, as NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport shared, Jets head coach Aaron Glenn shut down the notion of a trade by sharing a six-word message with reporters that shows his preference with McDonald this season.
Aaron Glenn shares firm statement on Will McDonald trade request
“Coach Aaron Glenn: ‘Will is going to be here.’ Essentially, Glenn says they don’t want to trade good players,” Rapoport shared.
This commentary from Glenn makes it clear that the Jets’ head coach doesn’t want his team to trade away McDonald this season.
While the former first-round edge rusher is frustrated in his role on defense, playing less than he has in the last two seasons, the Jets seemingly don’t want to trade him.
There have been rumors about McDonald being a trade target this season, with likely a few teams eyeing him as an option to upgrade their edge rusher room.
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But the Jets have shut down those rumors, and Glenn’s latest commentary on a potential trade does that. Glenn is making it clear he wants to keep McDonald, believing good players shouldn’t be traded by the Jets.
Will general manager Darren Mougey see it the same way? It’s an interesting question, especially if the Jets receive quality offers for McDonald this season.
The 27-year-old edge rusher is in his fourth NFL season, and with how great rookie David Bailey has looked, it wouldn’t be that outrageous for New York to trade McDonald this season for a solid return.
This is a situation to monitor, even though Glenn has shut down the trade request made by McDonald. Until the trade deadline has passed, McDonald will remain a potential trade candidate.
