If Thomas Jones is not likely to yield an equivalent WR... what kind of DP do you think we would get for him?
The fact that 'we' as fans don't know it doesn't mean our CS doesn't. From everything I have read and heard, Rex is in love with Greene. A combination of Greene and Leon would mean that Leon doesn't have to carry a #1 load. As far as durability concerns go... if we haven't signed him long term, this is the perfect time to find out if he can be durable. 'Making a deal for the sake of making it'? If we can get players to help us out in thin areas... as in a blocking TE, a depth DT or a depth OL - and help the team in the long run... take what you can get for Thomas Jones, because he is almost certainly not going to be a NY Jet in 2010.
I voted blocking TE and depth at OL. I realize that we are also in need of some depth on the DL, but with Rex at the helm and the type of D he's going to be running, I think that the unit as a whole will be able to hold it's own much better than last season, even with the deficiencies in depth (the LBs and CBs should both be better units this season). On the other hand, we are most likely going to have a rookie QB starting and it would seem more important to me to make sure that the guy is as well protected as possible. A blocking TE and depth at OL would both serve that purpose, as well as help out the running game. I don't see a serious need for a big-name wideout at this point. Other than Cotch, none of our other WRs have had a real shot at a starting role and I feel confident that as a unit these guys will prove to be better than most people are giving them credit for - especially with Keller looking like he's going to be an elite receiving TE as the OP pointed out. Let's see how our guys perform in a real game before declaring them the "weakest WR unit" in the league, as some here have done.
I would be mostly torn between OL and DL in addition to a blocking TE. I get your point about the combination of OL+TE to help Sanchez along, but the idea of making one trade to bolster both sides of the ball is too tempting to me.
I hear ya. That would be a close second choice for me. I'd take either of those scenarios WAY before wanting us to trade TJ for a WR.
I went with blocking TE and depth at OL, although it could have been a toss up with depth at DL. I'm not so concerned about a WR, and never really was, considering the O they plan to run, the rookie QBs (Kellen is still a rook in my eyes because he doesn't have a full season starting). So that being said, I think the run game is going to be important this year and we're going to need to open holes and give our QBs time to throw.
I see where your going with this but there is a problem. TJ is worth more to the Jets this season than any team would be willing to give up for him. He's a 31 yo back who is an average runner behind a good line. Most Jet fans can see this and I'm sure most GM's do as well. Add to this situation that he is most likely to be cut in the offseason to avoid paying him over 6 mill, if Greene pans out, and his trade value is at a very low point. Keller may very well be our best receiving option, but his skills are best used inside exposing slower LBers and becomming one of our young QB's best friends this season. Clowny or Stucky can handle the #2 role for now. We are not going to be a high powered offense, but should be able to be in games if our defense is as advertised this season. Right now I would expect the Jets to enter the season with at most a few waiver pickups and little else done to change the roster.
I think many here agree that trading TJ would not be a prudent move at this point - myself included - but that's where the "hypothetical" part comes in.
I get the whole hypothetical thing - that's not even in question for me. I think the actual question is a pretty fair one, honestly. Here's my take on the RB situation though; I don't think Greene is a replacement. Not yet, anyway. Again if you look at his college film, most of his big runs were from gaping holes or where the OL blew the D off the LOS, so there's no honest way to guage where he's at as far as moving piles or creating holes where he needs to.
You think the rusher with the most yards in the AFC last year would have no trade value to a team with no true starting rusher?
He's definitely got enough value to get us some line depth and a blocking TE. I'm not a sure if he could get us a WR that would make us a difference. Either way, I'm in the same state of oipinion, that Keller will probably end up being our #1 passing threat.
No. It's not. It's hypothetical. Besides, if it were severely flawed, I'd imagine you'd be all in favor of it.
You know, I think that even if we somehow pulled a trade for Braylon Edwards, Keller would still be our #1 receiving threat. He's so tough to cover.
Most teams that had a hole at RB filled them in the draft or FA. Who exactly did you have in mind for a team that would be willing to provide anything of value for Jones? The Team would have to have a very small window for winning becasue Jones is 31, so he has somewhere between 1-3 good years left. They would have to be able to run block well, because Jones is not exactly the type of back that makes his own holes. Finally they would not have spent a high draft pick on a RB. If they did this I would doubt they are about to move in on a trade for an aging back. The Bottom 5 rushing teams in the NFL last year were: NO, Cincy, Detroit, Indy, and Arizona. At first glance Zona and Indy seem like fits, but they both spent a frist day pick on a RB and have a returning incumbant as well. Detroit has a good young runner in Kevin Smith and is not any where near contention. NO has both Thomas and Bush comming back. Cincy may be a destination, but I would see that as a long shot. Other teams that could have intrest: Seattle has both the other Jones and Morris returning. They may have intrest, but if they did they had thier shots at a RB in the draft and Jones was reported to have been shopped at that time as well. Houston has Slaton returning but little depth behind him and no goal line type guy. Jones would provide depth, but I'm not exactly high on his goal line skills. They are the type of team that would seem to be the best fit though. Cleveland has little depth at RB, but if they had really wanted Jones I think he would have been worked into the Sanchez trade. Any team making a move for Jones is getting a old running back, who's unhappy with his contract and due to get 6 million next year if you keep him around. Jones is a good runner, not a great one. His window of usefullness is very small. Three years ago he was traded for a swap for second rouders, a 260 point difference on the charts (Top of he third round value) If that was his value comming off a very good year when he was 2 years younger that value has only gone down. At most your getting a day 2 pick for Jones. Its not worth going into the season when you get to keep him for 900k and Use him in our run bae scheme we will be using to protect an inexperinced QB.
I am not saying I think TJ should be traded, but if he is, three things should be apparent: 1. He would not be traded for another starting quality RB. Concededly the Jets would be better off with an RB with a better contract situation than Jones's, but not at the cost of accepting a significant decline in quality in an even trade. 2. The O is already pretty thin at the skill positions. Can't afford less. 3. Wideout is weakest at the skill positions. Ergo, has to be a trade for wideout.
TJ is more valuable to us then he is to any other team in the league right now. I can't see him being traded because I just don't think he would net anything close to making it worth it to trade him. Sure I would love to have a starting caliber WR for him but I would also love to have a million bucks in my bank account tomorrow. They both have the same chance of happening.
