The NFL regular season moves fairly quickly.
It feels like just a few days ago that New York Jets fans were celebrating a dominant Week 1 win, and now you look up, and it’s already a week away from November.
As teams prepare for Sunday’s Week 7 slate, the trade deadline is just a few weeks away. The deadline is set for Nov. 10, just after Week 9 concludes; it’s not that far away.
Over the next few weeks, teams across the league will monitor movement and players on their own rosters to see what they’re worth.
One player to watch for the Jets is veteran defensive tackle Harrison Phillips.
Should the Jets look to sell Phillips?
After a strong first season with the Jets in 2025, Phillips’ play has taken a step back this season.
Through six games, the veteran has earned a 48.9 overall grade from Pro Football Focus, which ranks 106th among 130 qualified interior defensive linemen. His 48.5 run-defense grade also ranks 85th, a steep decline from last season, when he ranked sixth in that metric.
Overall, it’s been a disappointing season for Phillips, especially for someone touted as a run-stopper throughout his career.
The on-off numbers also paint an interesting picture. The Jets are allowing 0.260 EPA per play more with Phillips off the field, ranking 227th among 248 DL in EPA swing. Opposing offenses have also recorded a 48.3% success rate with Phillips on the field, compared to 37.7% when he is on the sideline.
Also, the Jets’ fellow defensive tackles have fared well in more limited roles, as Phillips still leads the group in snaps played despite the struggles.
Atop that list is fourth-round rookie Darrell Jackson Jr., who has made a strong case to earn more playing time. His on-off splits have been much more encouraging.
With Jackson on the field, opposing offenses are generating 4.1 yards per play, compared to 5.4 when he’s off. The Jets are also surrendering 0.158 fewer EPA per play with Jackson on the field, which ranks 40th among 248 defensive linemen.
That’s pretty impressive for a Day 3 rookie, who has played just 37% of the Jets’ defensive snaps.
Then, there’s T’Vondre Sweat and Jowon Briggs, two other young DTs who could be a part of the Jets’ long-term plans. Sweat, in particular, has been a highly impactful player this season.
On the other hand, Briggs has struggled to match the high level of play he showed last year, but his pass-rushing tools suggest he can still be a valuable, consistent presence in the room.
Between those three guys, the Jets have some intriguing pieces. Also, given their 2-4 record, barring a noticeable improvement around the deadline, wouldn’t it make sense to give their younger DTs more snaps over veterans, and someone like Phillips, who just hasn’t been very effective this season?
When discussing a potential Phillips trade, his contract is also very important context. The veteran is on an expiring deal with a $7.5 million cap hit this season. If he were traded at the deadline, the acquiring team would pay $3.4 million in base salary, plus a prorated portion of his weekly workout/roster structures.
Nevertheless, after this season, he has no guaranteed salary or dead money attached to his contract. While Phillips hasn’t been dominant this season, some teams could still be interested in him.
Contending teams around the league are always looking for experienced defensive line, especially when it comes to stopping the run. Phillips has built a reputation for that, and he could fit as a rotational piece for a team looking to make a playoff push or chase a Super Bowl.
Perhaps the return for the Jets would be only a late-round draft pick, or maybe a pick swap and a young player. Something like that; it wouldn’t be a huge haul.
If the Jets don’t envision bringing Phillips back in 2027, getting something for him now, though, would be better than him walking away for nothing in the offseason.
However, there’s another side to the argument. He is a highly respected veteran within the Jets’ locker room, and he has emerged as a very vocal leader. Would the Jets want to trade that away for late-round draft capital?
The Jets should be willing to listen to offers for the veteran, but they shouldn’t enter the deadline with a preconceived notion about his status in either direction. See what teams have to offer not only for him, but for fellow veterans on the roster who fit a similar mold.
The question is whether or not New York legitimately views him as a piece beyond this season.
