Every year, a bunch of players across the NFL are unexpectedly dealt on trade deadline day. While most of the pre-deadline surrounds superstars who could be moved, many deadline-day trades involve less heralded players.
For the New York Jets, who sit at 2-7 ahead of Tuesday’s deadline, two players on their roster could fit that billing.
Andre Cisco, S
When the Jets re-signed Andre Cisco this offseason, it surprised many. His 2025 season with New York was cut short by injury, but even when he played, the returns weren’t encouraging.
Through the first three weeks of the season, filling in as a starter for the injured Minkah Fitzpatrick, Cisco played 168 defensive snaps, performing competently in Fitzpatrick’s shoes. Since Week 4, though, he has played only 23 defensive snaps.
For the most part, three-safety packages have not been a part of the Jets’ defensive plans. They have been fairly comfortable with Dane Belton and Minkah Fitzpatrick out there, as they should. However, on Sunday, 2025 fourth-round pick Malachi Moore seemed to leapfrog Cisco, playing 17 defensive snaps as a third safety, compared to Cisco’s zero.
By no means was Moore promising. Frankly, he struggled, making no tackles and allowing his only target on 12 coverage snaps to be completed for 19 yards. Still, it’s interesting that he was put into action ahead of Cisco.
Also, seventh-round rookie VJ Payne is expected to join the fold next week after returning from injured reserve, which could provide value to the Jets’ special teams unit. Furthermore, with development being important at this point in the season, why not give the rookie a chance? We don’t know what he is yet, unlike Cisco.
At the end of the day, Cisco is 26 years old, and he has started over 55 games at the NFL level, with a track record of being a ball hawk at times, logging seven interceptions from 2022-23 with the Jacksonville Jaguars. He could have a market for himself on deadline day. Perhaps the Jets held him out on Sunday to ensure he doesn’t get hurt ahead of the window when he could be shopped.
To boot, the 26-year-old is also on an expiring contract. That could be a solid fit for a contending team looking for some added safety depth.
Between his lack of recent playing time and Payne’s return, a Cisco trade could be imminent. The return would be marginal, but the Jets will take what they can get.
Isaiah Davis, RB
The Jets’ running back room is in an interesting position. With the emergence of Braleon Allen and Breece Hall’s return to the lineup, there aren’t many touches left to go around, leaving Isaiah Davis in an interesting spot.
Davis is a fascinating player because he has shown high efficiency when given touches, despite a limited sample size. On 88 career carries, he averages 5.2 yards per rush, and he has also caught 35 of his 44 targets for 329 yards.
This season, though, his role has been very limited. He has played only 44 snaps and has 15 rushes. He gained 44 yards (2.9 yards per carry) on those opportunities and added 68 yards on five receptions as a pass-catcher.
At this point, though, it just doesn’t look like there is room left for Davis in the backfield. Only so many touches can be distributed each week, and obviously, Hall and Allen take priority over the South Dakota State product.
With that in mind, perhaps the Jets could get some value for him at the trade deadline, even if it’s minimal. Davis still has one year left on his deal beyond this season as a 2024 fifth-round pick, and he could provide backfield depth for a team that may need it.
Beyond that, teams could point to his efficiency as a reason to take a swing on upside without giving up much in return. It could also let the Jets start fresh at RB3 this offseason, potentially drafting a new guy on Day 3.
With the trade deadline in sight, keep an eye on Davis and Cisco.
