A few days after the ball came down in 2025 in Times Square, the curtain is about to come down on the Jets' season when they face the playoff-bound Buffalo Bills in the final regular season game at Highmark Stadium in Orchard Park, NY.

And although the Green & White players will be scattering come Monday, an important takeaway from the team's 2025 NFL season has been skillful maneuvering by GM Darren Mougey acquiring players (and a bushel of draft picks) through trades -- before and during the season. The trade list includes players like DL Harrison Phillips, DB Jarvis Brownlee Jr., WRs Adonai Mitchell and John Metchie III ... and widebody DL Jowon Briggs.

Speaking about players who joined the team and took advantage of their opportunities, HC Aaron Glenn said: "There's a couple of guys that I can look at when we talked about that, and Briggs is one of them. When he came in, I think he was known as just a true run stopper, and he's done a really good job of that. But he's shown he has a knack for actually rushing the passer also, and it's in his own way, all right, but he's been pretty disruptive."

Briggs and Phillips were both acquired in trades toward the end of August -- Briggs (plus a seventh-round draft pick from Cleveland for a 2026 seventh-round pick) and Phillips from Minnesota (plus a 2027 seventh-round pick for sixth-round picks this year and in 2027).

Briggs, 6-1, 331, was drafted by the Browns out of Cincinnati (after transferring from Virginia) in the seventh round (No. 243 overall) of the 2024 NFL Draft. He spent most of that season on the practice squad before being elevated to the active roster in early December, appearing in 6 games. The Jets have given him an opportunity to display his talents.

"For me, I'd just say it's just getting out there on the field," he told team reporter Susanna Weir after practice on New Year's Day. "Having more chances to work and show what I can do. Show where I can help the guys around me. That's what I would say has been the biggest accomplishment of mine."

Briggs, 24, has appeared in 16 games this season, starting 7, and getting more snaps up front after the Jets traded Quinnen Williams to Dallas. His stat line before Sunday's season finale reads 4 sacks (second on the team), 34 total tackles and 7 TFL. He's also taken 140 snaps on the Jets' strong special teams.

"For me, I'd say it's just continued faith," he said. "Continuing to believe in what we decide to have going on. For me, I'm a guy that likes to put the horse blinders on, go to work, and then be able to take care of my one-eleventh. I say it all the time -- you can be selfish or selfless. Be able to take care of what you have going on, be so selfish about doing what you have to do, that it helps the greater good. Do your job the best you can, and you'll be able to help others and that's kind of how I decide to live my football life. So, that's kind of been what I've been focusing on as well."

Briggs won't turn 25 until September and DC Chris Harris has been impressed with his development.

"Briggs has been doing some really good things, affecting the quarterback, pushing the pocket, getting some pressures," Harris said on Thursday. "We are really pleased with where he's at and him continuing to grow within our defensive scheme."

There's no telling what the future holds for Briggs beyond the Week 18 game, but he's bought into Glenn's program.

"It's just continued belief and continued trust," he said. "Coach AG is somebody that's extremely genuine and he's somebody that does not change his messaging. From the beginning of the season, preseason to now, it's been a continued message of belief and faith and trust. And that's what we're trying to finish the season on."