Who Won the Revis Trade?
Big news occurred earlier today with the announcement that Revis Island was moving south, from the shores of New Jersey to the Florida coast. This kind of migration would be an unprecedented geological shift, and would likely send Doomsday Cultists into high gear. It should be noted, then, that Revis Island is only a metaphor for the piece of the football field where NFL cornerback Darrelle Revis happens to be standing, and not an actual physical location. With that crisis averted, the populace can now turn its attention to discussing the trade that sent Revis travelling down the coast from the New York Jets to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, one that sends Revis to the Bucs in exchange for the 13th pick in this year's draft and a 3rd of 4th round pick in next year's draft.
The Jets: There's little doubt that Revis is the best CB in the NFL over the past several years. His ability to lock down an entire half of the field is unmatched, and he has become one of the most feared players in the league, regardless of position. However, he has also been a distraction at times as well. More than once, he has signed contracts, then decided that they weren't good enough and asked for more. The resulting holdouts may not have caused any long-term damage, but they did bring unwanted attention. There's also the question of health after the torn ACL he suffered last year. He hasn't played since then, and that has to be kept in mind. In the trade, the Jets receive a very high draft pick to pair with the one they already had, giving them two top 15 picks. Those picks are extremely valuable under the new collective bargaining agreement, and allow the team to rebuild the team more quickly. They need those picks to work out, however, which isn't a sure thing. They also take a $12 million cap hit in dead money from the trade, placing that much more importance on this year's draft. They likely start Antonio Cromartie and Kyle Wilson at CB unless they use one of the early picks on another one. It's obvious that the team is worse off than before in terms of this year's lineup, but the trade was one that had to happen, because Revis was unhappy and ready to move on.
The Bucs: The Bucs add a player who, if 100%, is one of the game's best. He will lock down the opponent's best receiver and do so by himself. There could also be a psychological advantage for the rest of the secondary, and added confidence coming from having Revis on the field. Tampa Bay has re-vamped the entire secondary with free agency and draft picks, and while they could take some time to gel, a healthy Revis makes that easier. The loss of the 13th pick could have negative long-term effects, but for the immediate future, it is worth it. In terms of money, Revis agreed to a six-year, $96 million deal, but nothing guaranteed, which is huge for the Bucs. However, with Revis' history, there's an above-average chance he will want to redo the contract if he plays well. The biggest risk for the team is that he isn't healthy, or isn't himself anymore, and the team gave up a valuable draft pick for nothing. They've spent some big money on free agents over the past few years and failure to get to the playoffs and beyond spell the end for the Bucs GM and coaching staff.
The Verdict: It's still up for debate as to who won this trade, because so much depends on Revis' knee and how well the Jets use their new pick, but for now it looks like a victory for the Bucs. If fan reaction is any indication, it's a landslide win. Revis was an icon in the Jets' community and emotionally, the move is devastating. However, they were unlikely to contend anyway until their quarterback situation is resolved, so in that regard, adding an extra early pick is a good thing. The Bucs add a great player, but a CB won't win a championship, and if Freeman doesn't take that next step, it will ultimately be a futile move, especially if he re-negotiates and winds up handcuffing the team's salary cap. There are risks for both sides, but for now, the Bucs look like big winners here. They add a great player and the cost wasn't too unwieldy, though to be fair, I don't know how much it costs to tow an entire island down the coast.
The Jets: There's little doubt that Revis is the best CB in the NFL over the past several years. His ability to lock down an entire half of the field is unmatched, and he has become one of the most feared players in the league, regardless of position. However, he has also been a distraction at times as well. More than once, he has signed contracts, then decided that they weren't good enough and asked for more. The resulting holdouts may not have caused any long-term damage, but they did bring unwanted attention. There's also the question of health after the torn ACL he suffered last year. He hasn't played since then, and that has to be kept in mind. In the trade, the Jets receive a very high draft pick to pair with the one they already had, giving them two top 15 picks. Those picks are extremely valuable under the new collective bargaining agreement, and allow the team to rebuild the team more quickly. They need those picks to work out, however, which isn't a sure thing. They also take a $12 million cap hit in dead money from the trade, placing that much more importance on this year's draft. They likely start Antonio Cromartie and Kyle Wilson at CB unless they use one of the early picks on another one. It's obvious that the team is worse off than before in terms of this year's lineup, but the trade was one that had to happen, because Revis was unhappy and ready to move on.
The Bucs: The Bucs add a player who, if 100%, is one of the game's best. He will lock down the opponent's best receiver and do so by himself. There could also be a psychological advantage for the rest of the secondary, and added confidence coming from having Revis on the field. Tampa Bay has re-vamped the entire secondary with free agency and draft picks, and while they could take some time to gel, a healthy Revis makes that easier. The loss of the 13th pick could have negative long-term effects, but for the immediate future, it is worth it. In terms of money, Revis agreed to a six-year, $96 million deal, but nothing guaranteed, which is huge for the Bucs. However, with Revis' history, there's an above-average chance he will want to redo the contract if he plays well. The biggest risk for the team is that he isn't healthy, or isn't himself anymore, and the team gave up a valuable draft pick for nothing. They've spent some big money on free agents over the past few years and failure to get to the playoffs and beyond spell the end for the Bucs GM and coaching staff.
The Verdict: It's still up for debate as to who won this trade, because so much depends on Revis' knee and how well the Jets use their new pick, but for now it looks like a victory for the Bucs. If fan reaction is any indication, it's a landslide win. Revis was an icon in the Jets' community and emotionally, the move is devastating. However, they were unlikely to contend anyway until their quarterback situation is resolved, so in that regard, adding an extra early pick is a good thing. The Bucs add a great player, but a CB won't win a championship, and if Freeman doesn't take that next step, it will ultimately be a futile move, especially if he re-negotiates and winds up handcuffing the team's salary cap. There are risks for both sides, but for now, the Bucs look like big winners here. They add a great player and the cost wasn't too unwieldy, though to be fair, I don't know how much it costs to tow an entire island down the coast.
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