Why a Darrelle Revis Trade Should Happen

 

 

Arguably the biggest story besides the upcoming NFL Draft is what will become of Darrelle Revis. It appears as though the All-Pro corner's time in the big apple could be coming to a close, a prospect that has elicited a wide range of opinions from analysts and fans alike.

 

Although there are several possibilities as far as how this issue will pan out, there is one thing that is for certain: The Jets should trade Darrelle Revis.

 

At first glance, this seems counterintuitive. After their disasterous 2012 campaign, it seens as though the Jets can ill afford to let any talent walk out the door. And let's be clear here; we're not talking about just any talent. We're talking about one of the (if not the) best corners in the game, a true "shutdown corner" at a time in history where the term is almost nonexistant. And in today's pass-happy NFL, where receivers are allowed to roam the secondary untethered and quarterbacks are wearing figurative red jerseys, a marquee talent at corner is something that every team looks for.

 

And although Revis has just 19 career interceptions in his six-year pro career, this is often an attribute of a great corner. Quarterbacks are afraid to throw to Revis' side, opting instead to throw in the direction of the other corner a majority of the time. Revis doesn't get beat too often, at least not when healthy.

 

So why should the Jets give away Revis?

 

This has more to do with Revis' attitude and the Jets' ineptitude than anything else.

 

Revis is locked up in contract through the end of the 2013 season, and has made it clear that he is not a lock to return, what with constant holdouts and squabbles with upper management. So when you look at the situation, the correct course of action becomes obvious. They have no choice but to trade him. After all, why would the Jets let Revis walk away for free next year (or a mere compensatory pick) when they could trade him now and get much more for him?

 

It would be different if the Jets were contenders. But with the backward step they took last season, nobody outside of New York (and probably not even inside of it, for that matter) thinks that they even have a realistic shot at winning this year. They are a circus act whose faults were forgivable when the on-field success was there. But they have been exposed for what they are: a bad football team with countless distractions and several backup-caliber quarterbacks competing for the starting spot. 

 

Why would either party be against such a trade?

 

The obvious issue here is Revis' health. Revis makes a living with his change-of-direction skills and his speed, both of which could be compromised by the serious ACL injury he suffered in 2012. But we should assume in 2013 that any player who undergoes a procedure as commonplace as ACL surgery should be back and better than ever in short time. An injury that once ended promising careers (Gale sayers, anyone?) is now treated as little more than a broken ankle.

 

Obviously, selling the farm for a guy who is less than a year removed from knee surgery is something that has kept teams away from the prospect of making an offer. But Tampa Bay seems to have looked past that issue to see the big picture. A Bucs defense that ranked dead last against the pass in 2012 (297.4 yards/game) would benefit greatly from not having to worry about an entire side of the field. With the Tampa 2 defense in place, it would take some of the pressure off of Revis initially; in that scheme, safeties are largely placed in the most exposed position while corners are free to roam without having to worry about sticking on a man like glue. But Revis is a cerebral player who would be beneficial in any scheme.

 

Another reason why the Jets might be hesitant to give away Revis would be the Mike Wallace signing by Miami. With a deep threat like Wallace lining up against Jets cornerbacks twice a year, it would be nice to have someone who can match him, if not stride-for-stride, then close.

 

Overall impact

 

This Jets team is much further away from the playoffs than people give them credit for. Despite the swaths of media attention that this team gets, season after season, they will not go far this year and, although fans hate to admit it, the best thing to do is stockpile picks for the future. And a move could come soon with the Draft being a mere week away.

 

Hopefully GM John Idzik can do what his predecesor couldn't do: avoid the cat-and-mouse games and make the trade.