Should the New York Jets Make a Move for Chad Johnson?

Nothing is official, but the rumor mill is spinning regarding a Cincinnati Bengals' future without Chad Johnson.

The oft-headlined receiver has spent his entire career with the orange-clad team, and speculation is running rampant that the Bengals could look to part with the charismatic receiver.

After an injury-shortened season in 2008—and a media frenzy surrounding his surname change—it is assumed that Johnson (or Ocho Cinco) could be had by a team seeking the services of a proven, primary receiver.

This is exactly where the Jets factor into the equation. If Johnson is made available by the Bengals, they definitely won't be the only team vying for his services. But it's an opportunity the Jets simply cannot ignore.

With Randy Moss ruling as the best WR in the AFC East and Terrell Owens now claiming residence in Buffalo, the Jets could use a five-time Pro Bowler to make their passing game more threatening—no matter who the quarterback is.

It would be a bold move to keep pace with the competition in the division.

When Laveranues Coles was released—and subsequently signed by the Bengals—sixth-year receiver Jerricho Cotchery received his long overdue promotion to become the Jets No. 1 target.

But the significant lack of experienced depth behind Cotchery makes the situation an unfavorable one for whomever is eventually named as the team's starting quarterback.

Despite the upcoming NFL Draft, acquiring Johnson would be the safest and smartest move for the organization.

With the 17th pick, the Jets are expected to be heavily involved in the wide receiver market. But they are expected to be too far away to choose either of the highest-rated prospects in Michael Crabtree and Jeremy Maclin.

There's no telling how significant the drop-off in talent is going to be after Crabtree and Maclin come off the board, but the common belief amongst analysts is that collegiate receivers take at least three seasons to fully acclimate to the pace of the NFL.

Not everyone can be Calvin Johnson.

The Jets already have some intriguing youth who can develop into quality receivers, but pairing up too much inexperience without adequate veteran support is a recipe for disaster.

David Clowney has been a darling of fans since his explosive performances in the 2008 preseason, and Chansi Stuckey has shown great hands and clutch ability in high-pressure situations. Behind them are collegiate QB-turned-receiver Brad Smith, and special-teams ace Wallace Wright.

How many times can the Jets afford to roll the dice with the offense?

The front office did the right thing when they declined to piece together a devastating compensation package for Jay Cutler.Going into 2009 with faith in the men on the roster is the right decision, but it is absolutely necessary to find appropriate talent who can bring them along smoothly.

At 31 years old, it may be unreasonable to expect Chad Johnson to remain a 1,300-yard receiver. But with New York, he'll find himself in a familiar offensive situation.

There's no Carson Palmer, of course, but Cotchery's ability as a possession receiver can rival the performances of Johnson's former teammate, T.J. Houshmandzadeh.

In fact, an argument can be made in favor of Cotchery as a better possession receiver than Houshmandzadeh. Cotchery is younger, and has averaged 12.5 yards per reception over his career, whereas Houshmandzadeh lingers around the 11.4-yard mark.

Johnson would be more than a stop-gap receiver, and—if healthy—will prove to be a substantial upgrade over Coles at this point of his career.

The last time the Jets had a receiver go for over 1,200 yards was with a young Laveranues Coles in 2002. Compare that to Chad Johnson, who in a complete 16-game season, has only had less than 1,200 yards once.

Ocho Cinco's abilities will help the Jets keep stride with the competition while the team's youth adjusts to the complexities of the professional game. If you're going to have a veteran play ahead of the incumbent youth, shouldn't it be a player who's performed at a top-level for the majority of his career?

Johnson is not a trouble-maker, nor a team killer. His name change only backfired on him. He doesn't get arrested outside of night clubs, he doesn't fail drug tests, and he's not going to the press to voice his every complaint.

He's a player who wants to win, wants to be great, and wants to have fun in the process. There hasn't been much winning in Cincinnati, and he looks like he's having a lot less fun, too.

Rex Ryan wants the Jets to be a run-first team, and they're certainly built for that at the moment. Maybe someone like Chad Johnson can keep the opposing defense honest in the process.

The logic behind bringing Chad to New York almost makes too much sense.

If the deal can be made the same way the Patriots stole Randy Moss from Oakland, then it should be a no-brainer for the Jets' front office.

Angel Navedo is a contributing writer to TheJetsBlog.com. He is also the Examiner for the New York Jets and the Head Writer at NYJetsFan.com. 

He can be reached here.