The New York Jets are reportedly feeling out the trade market for enigmatic defensive tackle Sheldon Richardson this offseason.
The 2016 New York Jets were one of the worst teams in football. After going 10-6 and narrowly missing the AFC playoffs in 2015, the Jets stumbled to a miserable 5-11 campaign last year. Much of the same team returned from the previous year, but quarterback issues and locker room in-cohesiveness actually undermined this inconsistent AFC East football franchise.
One area that the Jets front office is looking to get better through subtraction is in their defensive line logjam. According to ESPN’s Rich Cimini, “the Jets will almost certainly try to trade [defensive tackle Sheldon Richardson]” this offseason.
Cimini would add that “the Jets will ask for a first-round pick for Richardson, but they will have to settle for less, perhaps a third-rounder.” Richardson has been a talented, but frustrating players since coming out of Missouri. He is a force to deal with up front on the gridiron, as well as a distraction in the Jets locker room.
New York already has two big investments on their strong defensive line in Muhammad Wilkerson and Leonard Williams. The Jets gave Wilkerson a big contract in the form of a five-year extension worth $86 million in 2016. New York used a top-10 pick to draft Williams in the 2015 NFL Draft out of USC.
Richardson has long been the odd man out in the Jets defensive front. Perhaps a change of scenery would be advantageous for him to get the most of his undeniable talent? The Jets don’t have a ton of high-upside, tradeable assets.
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While Richardson comes with baggage, he can help transform a pass rush if he lands in the right situation. He was a dominant player in college for the Missouri Tigers. Richardson was a good player for the Jets these last few years, but it seems his time in New York is coming to an end.