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Wide receiver Eric Decker we hardly knew ye.
ESPN’s Adam Schefter announced that the Jets are going to try to trade him, and if they can’t, they will release him.
So many fans and reporters are pushing the narrative that the Jets are rebuilding and/or tanking this year, and they are now doubling down on this theory based on the David Harris/Eric Decker departures.
In my opinion, the Jets won-loss record, whatever they might end up being, wasn’t greatly altered by these two moves.
Harris is a class act and good in run support, but he’s a liability in pass defense now. He’s 33 and was scheduled to make $6.5 million this year. That is a lot of money for a two-down linebacker. Now I think the Jets handling of this was awful (it should have been handled in March), but that doesn’t make it a bad football move. Those are two different issues. With the quartet of Darron Lee, Demario Davis, Bruce Carter and Julian Stanford, I think the Jets will be fine at ILB. Keep any eye on Carter. He’s a very fast linebacker who is terrific in coverage.
Now getting back to Decker.
He’s a solid player, but he’s not a transcendent talent. Very good player, but eminently replaceable. In my opinion, it’s risky business to keep around at $7.2 million, coming off hip AND shoulder surgeries. Nobody knows what the future holds, but a guy coming off two surgeries, to two different body parts, in one off-season, I’d be worried about his ability to stay healthy.
The Jets have a couple of big receivers who can replace him – Quincy Enunwa and Charone Peake. Jets fourth round pick Chad Hansen looks like a young Eric Decker.
Not sure about his legal situation, but Robby Anderson has looked very good this off-season.
And keep another thing in mind. Tight end Austin Seferian-Jenkins has looked superb this off-season. He lost 25 pounds helping his mobility and Jets linebackers and safeties have had a hard time covering him. When you have a special tight end, like a Jimmy Graham, or Antonio Gates in his prime, they can essentially be the #1 receiver in an offense. I think that could turn into the case with Seferian-Jenkins. That is how good he looks. And considering how often the Jets have thrown to him this spring, he seems like their #1 option.
The Jets are also going to throw to Bilal Powell and Matt Forte quite a big.
Decker is a very good player, but at his salary, and with the injury-risk, the Jets will live to see another day after this release.
Look, I have no idea how the Jets are going to do this year, but I think this hysteria out there regarding the impact of these two moves is overblown.
The Jets might not be great this year, but I don’t think these two moves are going to move the needle that much, where it impacts their record significantly, or at all.
June 7, 2017
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