And so the other shoe has dropped.
The Jets traded defensive lineman
Dewayne Robertson to the Denver Broncos Thursday for what appears to be a late-round conditional pick in the 2009 draft. The
Star-Ledger reports Gang Green could land at least a third-round selection if Robertson reaches certain playing requirements -- that would be sweet. The move should come as no surprise to Jet fans -- D-Rob was almost traded to the Cincinnati Bengals last month for a 4th and 5th round pick and the Detroit Lions and Philadelphia Eagles were also rumored to be interested in the five-year veteran.
Robertson was due to collect a $3 million bonus in June and with the acquisition of Kris Jenkins and re-signing of lineman Sione Pouha, the former first-round pick out of Kentucky was made expendable. The Green and White will save about $8.4 million with the trade.
If you're keeping score at home, that's two former first-round picks the Jets have traded in the past two months. Linebacker
Jonathan Vilma was sent to the New Orleans Saints at the end of February.
Speaking of the draft, it's this coming Saturday. The Jets own the sixth pick and speculations are running wild. Running back
Darren McFadden is the sexy choice, but I don't think he'll be around by the time the Jets select. Other players rumored to be heading to New York include: linebacker/defensive end Vernon Gholston, defensive lineman Sedrick Ellis, cornerback Leodis McKelvin and even quarterback Matt Ryan. There's also the possibility the Jets trade down (or maybe up?).
I've wavered on who the Jets should take, but if McFadden is available it would be almost impossible not to grab him. There have been questions about
McFadden's character (he was involved in a bar fight earlier this year and has claimed responsibility for two children by two different women), but the guy has incredible raw talent. Still, I wouldn't cry foul if the Jets opted for Gholston. The Jets had trouble getting to the quarterback last year and the product out of Ohio State should (stress
should) help in that department.
But the one guy I do not want the Jets to pick (repeat -- DO NOT) is the QB from Boston College. The Jets aren't settled at the quarterback position by any means (the jury's out on Kellen Clemens and I'm shocked that Chad Pennington is still on this team), but to bring in another young guy would make absolutely no sense to me. But that's me. The Jets have done well in the draft the past few years (the recently traded former first-round picks notwithstanding), let's see if it continues.
Anyway, Arin from
Arin It Out will be live blogging the first two rounds of the NFL Draft.
Hopefully, whomever the Jets select won't be traded away in a couple of years.
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