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49ers-and-crabtree-kiss-and-make-up-rookie-wr-reportedly-signs">Next to the news that Michael Crabtree is set to be a 49er, the Jets acquiring Braylon 'AH THE BALL SCARES ME' Edwards for Wide Receiver Chansi Stuckey, Linebacker Jason Trusnik and two picks (thought to be a 3rd and 5th-round pick) was the most surprising news of the morning.
Rumor has it the 3rd can become a 2nd if Edwards hits certain escalators. Rumor also has it those escalators are ridiculously high.
Frankly, this is something GM Mike Tannenbaum and owner Woody Johnson have wanted for a long time. To me, this wasn't necessary. Sure, the Jets could use a WR to pair with Jerricho Cotchery.
Right now though, the Jets have offensive line issues not wide receiver issues. Maybe Edwards will pull defenses off the offensive line. He wasn't doing it in Cleveland, but maybe it will be different in the Big Apple.
While this is a 'Win Now' move for the Jets, I honestly think it was one that was far from critical. Add to it the fact that theoretically the Jets could lose him in 2010 and now you're renting a cement-handed wide receiver with attitude.
How is that an improvement?
More than likely 2010 will be an uncapped year and the Jets will keep him for a relative song. You can expect Edwards to chirp all off season if that's the case.
They can't give Edwards any more money before they deal with Leon Washington's requests. Washington has done everything they wanted—and quietly—without a new contract.
Edwards won't care, but Jet management should.
Suffice to say, I am leery of this trade. The Jets may not have given up much but there is a lot more at stake than two players and a pair of draft picks.
What about the players themselves? What is the impact on them? Let's take a look.
Braylon Edwards
Well aside from having to be more careful in NYC picking fights than he was in Cleveland, Edwards has a chance at turning his faltering career around.
Edwards had one fantastic season in 2007, but has been unable to recapture his numbers (80 catches, 1,289 yards, 16 TDs). That's partly on the offense but Edwards shares a huge chunk of that blame.
Sure Edwards has ability—but he's dropped so many passes at this point, how much do you trust him?
Add to it that he is going to an offense that is supposed to run the ball early and often, despite struggling to do so of late. This is not a 'bring it and fling it' offense where he will log a ton of targets, especially not with Cotchery and tight end Dustin Keller there.
Edwards has a chance at redemption but limit your expectations. He has to learn a new offense, one that is not receiver focused and overcome his dropped pass issue.
I think Edwards remains a WR3 on a fantasy team, with the hope he can crawl up to WR2 status.
Jerricho Cotchery
The upside is, Cotchery has someone across from him who will attract some attention from defenses in a way nobody—save perhaps Keller—does right now. This could help free him up for some better opportunities down the line.
However, we are still talking about an offense which right now is throwing only 50 percent of the time (110 pass attempts vs 112 rushing attempts), a stat I expect will change to favor the run more as the season progresses.
Fact is, when the Jets get the run going, they will ride it. We just saw what happens when Sanchez needs to throw too often.
So Cotchery, while he may be open more, will be sharing targets with one more legitimate receiver.
I think the quality of his catches may go up (more yards after catch, better percentage of targets caught) but the quantity may suffer.
He should remain a solid WR2—even as Edwards learns the offense Cotchery will remain a reliable choice for Sanchez.
Leon Washington and Thomas Jones
Add Shonn Greene in here if you'd like, but however you look at it the run game is a shambles.
Now the offensive line has struggled mightily, as I talked about in my Trendspotting Article last week, and part of that is just bad play on their part.
However with a rookie quarterback at the helm, they have been facing many stacked fronts. A defense will sell out to stop the run and make the rookie beat them through the air.
Sanchez has looked very good at times, but he isn't scaring defenses. So opposing defenses continue to stack the line.
And wouldn't you know it, the run game struggles.



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