When the New York Jets traded away defensive cornerstones Sauce Gardner and Quinnen Williams at the NFL’s trade deadline, it became evident that the team was entering full rebuild mode.

Speaking to reporters on Monday, Jets defensive tackle Harrison Phillips, 29, spoke about the team’s long-term goal, emphasizing the balance between patience and optimism.

“You have to have the mental toughness to play the long game, but you also have the maturity to recognize it’s not as far away as you think,” said Phillips.

Acquired in August, the veteran has quietly turned in one of the Jets’ most reliable seasons. Since Week 6, Phillips owns PFF’s highest run-defense grade (80.2) among all qualified interior linemen (minimum 51 run defense snaps). He hasn’t been charged with a missed tackle since Week 1 and has racked up 11 run stops over his last five games, all while playing through a foot injury severe enough to place him in a walking boot earlier this year. It’s the kind of toughness teammates feel, coaches notice, and fans can’t help but appreciate.

When it comes to rebuilding situations, the Jets are in one of the league’s more fascinating spots. They’re sitting at No. 5 in the draft order right now, but with six games left, that could swing in either direction pretty quickly. Still, compared with the other teams hanging around that range, such as the New Orleans Saints, the Las Vegas Raiders, and the Tennessee Titans, the Jets actually have a few fundamental building blocks already in place.

Let’s be honest: after trading Sauce Gardner and Quinnen Williams, this roster is far from complete. Nobody’s pretending otherwise. But there are pieces worth being excited about.

The offensive line has been one of the best groups in football this year, the cornerback room has upside, the talent off the edge is undeniable, and you saw flashes against the Ravens that this defense can punch above its weight. On offense, Garrett Wilson is Garrett Wilson, Breece Hall is still a game-breaker, and young receivers like John Metchie III and Adonai Mitchell have shown they possess legitimate upside.

And then there’s the quarterback. Everything eventually circles back to that. The good news? The Jets aren’t starting from scratch. They finally have some offensive structure, a scheme that makes sense, and some infrastructure to work with. Add in the fact that New York is projected to have four picks inside the top 45 this April, and suddenly there’s a real path here: draft your QB, plug holes, and give yourself a shot at turning this thing around quickly.

The quarterback is what it all comes down to. It decides everything: the GM’s legacy, the direction of the franchise, the timeline for competing. Just look at the Washington Commanders. They went 4-13 in 2023, picked second overall, took Jayden Daniels, and rode a rookie quarterback all the way to the NFC championship game.

That’s how fast it can flip when you nail the pick.

For a team starting over, Phillips’ words are accurate. It’s a long game, but maybe not as long as it seems.