Braylon Edwards Trade Adds New Dimension To New York Jets, AFC East Race

News broke early today that Browns wide receiver Braylon Edwards, recently caught up in a bit of controversy between himself and a friend of LeBron James, has been traded to the New York Jets.

It's a curious move by any standard—you simply rarely see receivers of his caliber traded a month into the season—but even more curious given the circumstances.

While Browns coach Eric Mangini has assured the media and fans that the trade was not the result of his recent misconduct, one has to wonder why they would make the move now, especially a week after giving Derek Anderson, whose superb arm strength makes a deep threat all the more valuable, control over the team once again.

Edwards' best season came in 2007, when he finished with nearly 1,300 yards as both he and Derek Anderson enjoyed breakout seasons.

Since then, both have struggled, with Edwards catching just 55 passes in 2008 and just 10 so far this season.

For the Jets, the price was rather steep. They gave up a conditional third round pick, a fifth round pick, special teamer Jason Trusnik, and receiver Chansi Stuckey.

That third rounder will even become a second rounder, should Edwards catch a certain amount of passes. While the number's undisclosed, one would have to imagine it's higher than his career-best 80 catches.

The Jets have lacked a complementary threat to Jerricho Cotchery this season after Laveranues Coles made his way to Cincinnati in the offseason.

Cotchery is a fine receiver, but it's difficult for any single player to pose much of an offensive threat by himself. Tight end Dustin Keller is second on the team in receptions, but has had to do more blocking work this year and has caught just 12 passes in four games. 

On the field, Edwards is a bit of an unknown. He's been in the league for five seasons now and has been relatively healthy throughout, though he slumped considerably last year after his breakout 2007 campaign.

I'd expect to see him play a role more as a big-play downfield threat, similar to the way Santonio Holmes complemented the more consistent Hines Ward in recent years. Cotchery's success so far this year, with 23 catches for 356 yards and a touchdown, should mean that New York will still continue to get him the ball regularly.

But Edwards is a big-play threat. In each of his first four years in the league, Edwards has had at least one play of 70 yards or greater.

Off the field, the move seems to indicate that the Jets are looking to keep the pressure on the rest of the division after losing to the Saints this past weekend.

Given that the Jets, somewhat unexpectedly, stand atop the AFC East, they obviously feel that now is the time to make an aggressive move.

It's a stiff price for a guy who has made just one Pro Bowl, is in the final year of his contract, and has run into some trouble recently.

The Jets can franchise or renegotiate with Edwards, of course, and at 26 he still has plenty of upside, but for now two draft picks and two players is a lot to pay for a one-year player.

To my eyes, this is a shot over the bow of the New England Patriots and the rest of the league that the Jets are serious about challenging now, and that the first four games are merely a sign of things to come.

The Jets now have two really prime receiving threats, a great running game, a very good, proud offensive line, and a defense that has proven as tenacious as its coach.

While the timing is a bit odd, it's not a totally surprise move. The Jets have looked for a deep-play threat since Coles and the team parted ways, but with Plaxico Burress now in jail and Brandon Marshall and his coach making nice in Denver, Edwards was really the last premier receiver available.

The question now is whether the Jets can get him the ball, and whether the Browns can get an already struggling offense off the ground with their best two receiving threats of this decade playing in Tampa Bay and New York.