NFL Draft Rumors: New York Jets Would Be Insane to Trade Up for Trent Richardson

The Jets need a dominant back, and Trent Richardson is the only dominant back in this draft. New York would be a band of fools to trade for the opportunity to draft him. 

If recent rumors are true, then the Jets are at least flirting with the idea of being a band of fools.

Rich Cimini, of ESPN New York, dished the rumors.

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Here's what I expect the Jets to do Thursday night in the first round: A. Explore the possibility of trading way up for Alabama RB Trent Richardson.

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So, as Cimini tells it, this is going to be the Jets' first priority on draft day. Now, he isn't attributing this to a source inside the team, but this still should be seen as a solid representation of what the Jets are thinking. 

Cimini has been covering the Jets for a long time. He is not going to have this as their first plan of action if he didn't have a strong sense that that is what they wanted to do. 

You can't blame the Jets for exploring this option. They certainly need the boost to their running game. New York has built their success in recent season on great defense and a power running game.

That running game disappeared last season. They finished 22nd in rushing, and averaged just 3.8 yards per carry.

That is not going to cut it.

Richardson would be a huge boost. However, he would be an extremely costly one. 

Cost Prohibitive Move

Richardson is widely viewed as a top five selection—like in these two mock drafts. That puts Richardson out of the Jets' reach, who first pick at No. 16.

At least, it should.

New York would need Richardson to slide until pick No. 10 before they even begin to contemplate this deal. Last year, the Redskins traded the No. 10 pick to the Jaguars for the No. 16 and 49 picks in the same draft.

However, Richardson is not going to last that long. Every team that needs an RB has their eye on him. The longer he sits on the board, the more teams will inquire about trading for him. This will drive his price up. 

The reality of Richardson's price tag for the Jets will be much closer the the deal the Falcons made last year—to jump from No. 27 to No. 6 to draft Julio Jones.

Atlanta had to send picks Nos. 27, 54 and 124 in last year's draft and a first and fourth round pick in the 2012 draft. 

The price won't be quite that expensive, but it will be close. New York is staring at a price tag in the neighborhood of two firsts and a second and third. And that is too much for the Jets to pay for any one player in this draft. 

They have too many needs. They must get younger and faster on defense and add some offensive lineman. They need all of their picks.

Richardson would be a great fit for the Jets. He is just going to be way too expensive for them.