Jets mailbag: Why trade for Redskins’ Trent Williams is unlikely

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You ask, we answer. The Post is fielding questions from readers about New York’s biggest pro sports teams and getting our beat writers to answer them in a series of regularly published mailbags. In today’s installment: the Rangers. Do you think the Jets will still try to pry Trent Williams from the Redskins (for less than …

You ask, we answer. The Post is fielding questions from readers about New York’s biggest pro sports teams and getting our beat writers to answer them in a series of regularly published mailbags. In today’s installment: the Rangers.

Do you think the Jets will still try to pry Trent Williams from the Redskins (for less than a mid-round pick) so they can focus on a corner and rush linebacker in first two rounds of draft? — Steve M

Should we trade for Trent Williams (say a third-round pick) in a sign-and-trade and then go wideout in first round? — Alfred

The Trent Williams situation is an interesting one to watch in Washington. I do think the Jets have some interest, but I would categorize it more as mild than wild. You guys are focusing on the draft-pick compensation the Redskins would want, but the bigger hurdle is the contract. Williams reportedly is seeking $20 million a year in a new contract. We have seen the way GM Joe Douglas operates, and signing a soon-to-be 32-year-old for $20 million a year does not fit the mold.

Williams is a great player, but it makes no sense for the Jets to spend big money on him.

What compensatory pick will the Jets get for Robby Anderson next year? — Michael Flaherty

Probably none. The way the compensatory-pick formula works is you have to lose more players than you sign, and then contract values factor in. The Jets have been very active in free agency, signing volume rather than spending big money on a few free agents. They have had some free-agent losses — Anderson, Brandon Shell, Brandon Copeland, Brent Qvale, Tom Compton and Maurice Canady — but it may depend on how many of those players qualify, like Qvale, Compton or Canady. According to Nick Korte (@nickkorte), who understands this way better than I do, Anderson could qualify for a fourth-round pick at best, but that is a long shot. A reminder: It would be for the 2021 draft.

If the Jets win just eight or nine games and miss the playoffs next season, is Adam Gase back for a third year? — David

It is hard to predict these things based just on win totals. It usually depends on how it goes. The best example is the Jets went 9-7 in 2008 and Eric Mangini was fired, then the Jets went 9-7 in 2009 and Rex Ryan received a contract extension. Those seasons looked very different. Would the Jets make the playoffs at 9-7 next year? That changes the picture. It is not as simple as, “Gase needs to win X games to be back.” It will depend on how the season goes.

What are the top five losses you’ve witnessed in your years covering the Jets? — Jeff Weinstein

Great question. I’ve seen some amazing losses. There are two kinds of bad losses — heartbreakers and blowouts. I will try to mix the two. Also, I exclude the losses in the AFC Championship games because those feel like their own category.

1. Jan. 3, 2016: Bills 22, Jets 17 — The season finale in 2015 tops the list. The Jets win this and they make the playoffs and everything looks different right now.

2. Nov. 17, 2011: Broncos 17, Jets 13 — Tebowmania.

3. Nov. 11, 2018: Bills 41, Jets 10 — I thought Todd Bowles was going to get fired on the spot. A complete no-show.

4. Oct. 22, 2017: Dolphins 31, Jets 28 — The Jets blew a 14-point lead in the fourth quarter to Matt Moore. Josh McCown’s late interception sealed it.

5. Oct. 21, 2019: Patriots 33, Jets 0 — Sam Darnold saw ghosts and the Jets got destroyed.

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If somehow [Isaiah] Simmons or [Jeff] Okudah drops to No. 11, do the Jets draft best player available and go defense, or do they still draft OT or WR? — Jim G

It’s hard for me to envision that scenario happening, but I think the Jets would jump all over Okudah. Cornerback is a huge need. I suspect Douglas would love Simmons, too. Even though he does not fill a need necessarily, you can’t have enough good players.

Will/can Adam Gase find a way to finally utilize Le’Veon Bell in his offense? Gase’s inability to utilize him last year, when he was by far the most talented player on our offense, has me concerned about his coaching ability. — Ed Keller

I do think Gase will find ways to use Bell better this season. I also think if the offensive line is improved, that will greatly help Bell. One thing that I think is incorrect is that Gase did not use Bell enough last year. Bell was ninth in the NFL among running back touches. He caught 66 passes. I’m not sure Gase should have force-fed him the ball any more than he did. But yes, I do think Gase needs to find more effective ways to play to Bell’s strengths.