Vincent Jackson: Are the Patriots the Team To Beat in the Trade Market?
Patriots nation is in a state of utter shock after seeing Randy Moss shipped out of town. Considering how the Patriots would have received a compensatory pick for Moss, management must have thought the Pats were better off without Moss than with him.
While I disagree with that sentiment, it’s tough to definitively say without more insight into the inner workings of the New England locker room.
With Moss gone, the Patriots are lacking a big play receiver. Could Vincent Jackson fill that void? Here’s a look at the top ten teams vying for Jackson’s services.
10. Tampa Bay Buccaneers
1 of 10
Rookie Mike Williams has been a pleasant surprise, but overall, the Buccaneers receivers are woeful. Other than Kellen Winslow, I don’t think a single Tampa Bay pass catcher could crack a playoff team’s rotation.
Josh Freeman has all the tools to be a great player. He’s big. Fast. Strong arm. But until you give him a legitimate downfield threat, the Bucs won’t know what they’ve got in the second year pro.
9. Seattle Seahawks
2 of 10
Four games into the season, the ‘Hawks leading receiver is tight end John Carlson with 14 catches and 160 yards. Hardly impressive. Even though rookie receiver Golden Tate looks like a player, there is still a huge hole in Seattle’s starting line-up.
A trade for V-Jack would give Matt Hasselback the receiving option he has so desperately missed in nearly a decade with the Seahawks. At 2-2, the ‘Hawks have started the season better than expected. Acquiring Jackson could help propel this team into the postseason.
8. St. Louis Rams
3 of 10
When Donnie Avery suffered a season ending injury during a pre-season game against the Patriots, I started worrying for Sam Bradford. It’s bad enough being a rookie quarterback in the NFL, how do you survive without your top receiving option?
Ravens castoff Mark Clayton has filled in admirably, hauling in 22 passes for 300 yards through four games. Ditto for former undrafted free agent Danny Amendola. But those aren’t number one receivers. Truth be told, I’m not sure they are even number two receivers.
Bradford has blown me away this season, and the addition of a reliable veteran receiver could do wonders for the top overall draft pick.
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7. Tennessee Titans
4 of 10
I’m sorry to say, but Kenny Britt and Justin Gage are not number one receivers. That's not meant to knock these players, because they are supremely talented, but Britt and Gage combined for only 70 catches, 923 yards and 6 TD a year ago.
In comparison, Jackson had 1167 yards and 9 TD last season. I understand that this is a rushing team, and I understand that Vince Young does not have a fantastic arm. Nonetheless, the addition of a premier wide receiver would be a huge boon for this Titans team.
6. San Francisco 49ers
5 of 10
At 0-4, the 49ers are slowly watching their season swirl down the drain. Despite a talented defense and an offense that features Michael Crabtree, Frank Gore and Vernon Davis, the Niners are averaging only 13 points per game.
Part of the blame falls on the shoulders of underachieving quarterback Alex Smith, but there is more to the story. Crabtree doesn’t have blazing speed as evidenced by his 12.9 yard per catch average, and Josh Morgan is better served as a slot receiver than a number two option. In contrast, Jackson has a career average of 17.2 yards per reception.
5. Pittsburgh Steelers
6 of 10
Through four games, the Steelers have the fewest passing yards in the NFL. It’s fair to expect a dramatic increase once Ben Roethlisberger returns, but the lack of a true number one receiver could affect this team’s Super Bowl aspirations.
Hines Ward is a well rounded, albeit aging receiver and Mike Wallace has progressed nicely since last season. Still, with the loss of Santonio Holmes to the Jets, the Steelers could use a dynamic receiver. Vincent Jackson would fill that role nicely.
4. Chicago Bears
7 of 10
The Bears are in dire need of an upgrade at the receiver position. The trio of Johnny Knox, Devin Hester and Devin Aromashodu are all big play receivers, but none of them are reliable route runners.
With Jay Cutler at quarterback and Mike Martz calling the plays, this offense has the capability to air it out; they just need a true number one. The 6’5 Jackson would provide a big target for Cutler who put up career highs while throwing to the 6’4 Brandon Marshall.
3. Washington Redskins
8 of 10
Despite the addition of Donovan McNabb, the Redskins still rank in the middle of the pack as far as passing offense is concerned. In fact, McNabb’s QB rating is down more than eight points from last season’s 92.9 rating.
The reason is simple – Washington’s receivers are subpar. Santana Moss is still a legitimate threat, but at only 5’10, doesn’t provide the most consistent target. After Chris Cooley, the ‘Skins leading receiver has all of four receptions!
If the Redskins are serious about re-tooling their passing game, they’ll need an upgraded receiving core and the Chargers would be more willing to trade Jackson out of the conference. Especially to a team they don’t face this season.
2. New England Patriots
9 of 10
The Patriots are the ideal landing spot for Jackson. Granted, the Chargers would hate to trade away their star receiver to a conference rival, especially considering the two teams play each other on October 24th. However, the Patriots are now devoid of a big, downfield threat and Jackson would be the perfect fit. After all, what’s the best way to replace a speedy 6’4 receiver? With a 6’5 receiver of course.
The Patriots have plenty of assets including two first round picks and two third rounder’s. This morning a fellow Bleacher Report writer suggested Belichick had intentionally blocked Jackson’s trade to the Vikings, and the idea is certainly interesting.
Jackson would likely require a long term extension before agreeing to a deal, and the Patriots would be far more likely to pay a 27-year old Jackson than a 33-year old Moss. New England would be a perfect fit for Jackson. Only time will tell if Patriots management feels the same way.
1. San Diego Chargers
10 of 10
Unfortunately for fans of the following teams, it seems most likely that Jackson will end up staying in San Diego and riding the bench for the duration of the season.
The Chargers management seems content to make an example of Jackson, setting the standard for future hold-outs. They have already nixed a potential deal with Minnesota who seemed more than willing to negotiate.
Will Action Jackson get dealt? With the October 19th trade deadline approaching, the window is closing.
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