The Jets gave it one last run Monday night against the Patriots and fell flat on their faces. With the NFL trade deadline now a week away, Gang Green now becomes a seller and some big names could soon be shipped out of New York.
NBC Sports’ Peter King mentioned in his Monday column that WR Robby Anderson could be had for the right price, but Joe Douglas could very well be looking to get a massive haul in return for the team’s biggest trade chip.
It’s no secret that Douglas and head coach Adam Gase were not in love with the signing of Le’Veon Bell this past spring. In fact, a big reason why Douglas has a job in New Jersey is because former Jets GM Mike Maccagnan signed Bell to a monster deal.
There has been speculation as far back as May that the Jets were open to trade Bell (even before he suited up for the team), and Sports Illustrated’s Albert Breer just recently addressed the likelihood that Douglas would sell off some major parts with the team now 1-5 on the year.
“You have to wonder whether GM Joe Douglas starts to look at the possibility of selling off pieces for draft capital, especially given that the team traded picks this summer for an offensive lineman (Alex Lewis) and corner (Nate Hairston),” Breer wrote.
As for the teams most likely to go after Bell if indeed he becomes available over the next seven days, take a look at the Ravens, Bills, Bears and Seahawks.
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All are contenders that could certainly use Bell, the top pass-catching RB in the NFL. Bell would give the Ravens an Alvin Kamara-like complement to Mark Ingram in the backfield.
Trading Bell to the Bills might be tricky considering the division rivalry, but Douglas has already shown this season that he is not afraid to trade within the AFC East if he believes there is value. The Jets made a rare trade with the Patriots a couple months back in order to land WR Demaryius Thomas.
There was some smoke back in March that the Bears were looking to sign Bell but they ultimately avoided giving him a fat contract. They may have been a mistake considering how pathetic the Chicago offense has looked in recent weeks. The Bears aren’t going to be able to find a worthy quarterback the rest of the way, so Ryan Pace must get creative in finding a way to at least make the Bears offense respectable.
Chicago, at 3-3 in the stacked NFC North, desperately needs a jolt of new energy right now and Bell would certainly provide that.
Finally, the Seahawks are another team that looks like it’s one player away from true contention. Seattle only managed to score 16 points at home against a so-so Ravens defense this past Sunday.
However, inserting Bell into that offense would instantly give the Seahawks one of the scariest units in the league. Bell is the perfect complementary RB to Chris Carson and Russell Wilson would have a field day utilizing the versatile Bell. Bell is such a good pass-catching back that it’s easy to imagine teams spreading him out wide, with a more traditional back in the backfield.
