Jamal Adams, Le’Veon Bell and Robby Anderson aren’t going anywhere after all.
Despite rumors that they would be dealt before the NFL’s 4 p.m. trade deadline, all three players will remain with the Jets for the remainder of 2019.
Anderson looked like the most likely to be moved entering Wednesday, but general manager Joe Douglas never received an offer to his liking. According to ESPN’s Chris Mortensen, the best offer the Jets got for the wideout was a fourth-round draft pick.
Adams and Bell didn’t surface as potential trade candidates until the day of the deadline, but their names dominated the rumor mill until the clock struck four. The Jets asked for a king’s ransom in exchange for both players, but no team was willing to meet New York’s high asking price. The Chiefs were considered the team with enough assets to land Bell, while the Cowboys and Ravens were the main players to land Adams. Dallas reportedly offered a first-round pick to get the deal done, but that was not enough for Douglas and the Jets to pull the trigger on a trade.
With the Jets trading Leonard Williams to the Giants on Tuesday, front offices around the league smelled a fire sale at One Jets Drive, prompting phone calls to Douglas throughout Wednesday afternoon. However, with Douglas not getting a haul he deemed fit for players of Adams’ and Bell’s caliber, he opted to keep his two stars.
Now that the trade deadline has come and gone, Adams, Anderson and Bell can get back to focusing on preparing for the Dolphins on Sunday. The same cannot be said for New York’s front office.
Adams and Bell are under contract for the foreseeable future and figure to factor into the team’s plans moving forward despite the trade deadline rumors. With that being said, there’s always the possibility that a strong offer comes along in the offseason considering both plays can be had at the right price. Adams indicated he is open to a move, while Bell was not signed by the current front office regime. Douglas and company also have to make a decision on what they want to do with Anderson now, as his contract expires at season’s end.
Nothing transpired on Wednesday, but all of the rumors laid the groundwork for what figures to now be a very busy offseason to the Jets.
