Seattle Seahawks acquire Sheldon Richardson from the Jets
The rich get richer in Seattle as the Seahawks have pulled off a blockbuster trade for Sheldon Richardson
After years of speculation, the New York Jets have traded former first round pick Sheldon Richardson to the Seattle Seahawks.
New York will receive wide receiver Jermaine Kearse and a second-round draft pick. Both teams will also swap seventh-round draft picks.
Richardson, the 13th overall pick of the 2013 NFL Draft, has recorded 18 sacks in 58 career games playing across the front seven. After years of playing on the defensive line, the Jets started the 26-year-old at linebacker in 2016.
This season will be the final year of Richardson’s rookie contract, which pays him slightly over $8 million this season.
A one game suspension was served by Richarson last year after an arrest stemming from a traffic violation and resisting arrest in 2015. He’s faced drug charges and suspensions dating back to college, and his 2015 incident was handled lightly by the NFL in many opinions.
Kearse fills a major need for the Jets after losing Brandon Marshall and Devin Smith during the offseason. He’s started all but three games over the last three years and should be a reliable target for whoever starts at quarterback in New York.
Last season Kearse finished with over 500 receiving yards for the third consecutive year in a five-year career. He leaves the Seahawks receiving corp in the reliable hands of Doug Baldwin, Paul Richardson, Jimmy Graham and Tyler Lockett.
The Jets have Kearse under contract for two years with the option to buy him out after this season.
Where Richardson plays in a crowded front seven in Seattle is yet to be seen. Michael Bennett and Cliff Avril have the defensive end position locked down, and Ahtyba Rubin and Jarran Reed are solid at defensive tackle.
However, Ian Rapoport of NFL Network says Rubin could be on his way out of Seattle, with Denver being the likeliest landing spot.
Starting alongside K.J Wright and Bobby Wagner as an outside linebacker is the likeliest scenario.
New York will happily take on the draft capital as well considering they enter a rebuild with no clear answer at quarterback. Christian Hackenberg and Bryce Petty lost the starting job during the preseason, leaving a major question going into “the year of the quarterback.”