The New York Jets have been scheduling some interesting workouts, which seems to indicate this team is considering trading away Bilal Powell.
The New York Jets still have a ton of cap space available and are projected to have the most cap space in 2019 as well. They swung and missed on Ndamukong Suh, but could the Jets be looking for a consolation prize?
Thomas Rawls, perhaps?
Free agent RB Thomas Rawls is visiting the Jets tomorrow, per source #NYJ
— Brian Costello (@BrianCoz) March 28, 2018
So currently the Jets have:
- Elijah McGuire, 23 years old
- Isaiah Crowell, 25 years old
- Bilal Powell, 29 years old
Could they be looking to add yet another running back? It wouldn’t seem to make sense on the surface because most teams carry three running backs and the Jets already have their three.
But there’s a notable difference between the three running backs the Jets have on the roster; That’s, of course, age. It’s hard to notice at first, but Bilal Powell, believe it or not, is 29 years old and will be 30 in the middle of the 2018 NFL season. Meanwhile, the other backs are closer to adolescence.
When you look at the running back the Jets are scheduled to bring in for a visit in Rawls, he’s 24 years old (and will be 25 when the season starts). Could the Jets be looking to add some cheap labor and flip Powell for a late round pick?
We’ve certainly seen this song and dance before on 1 Jets Drive.
Anyone remember Leon Washington? Washington (5-foot-8, 203 pounds) and Powell (5-foot-10, 204 pounds) have very similar builds.
Back in the middle of the 2010 NFL Draft, the Jets surprisingly took Joe McKnight in the fourth round who seemed to be a younger version of Washington. Then just a little bit later, we saw on the bottom ticker of ESPN that Washington had been shipped away for a fifth-round draft choice to the Seattle Seahawks.
Could the green and white be looking to repeat history again? It sure seems that way. Although I would like to take this opportunity to implore the Jets not to trade away Powell for peanuts.
This is a guy who has given his blood, sweat, and tears to the Jets since being drafted in the 2011 NFL Draft (fourth round). He’s never had a 200-plus carry season, always used in a rotational role. Many Jets fans suggest he’s been underutilized during his time with the Jets.
Why get rid of him? Sure he’s approaching 30 years old, but why is Mike Maccagnan hovering around the senior citizen home eager to pull the life plug on a running back who still clearly has a lot left in the tank.
Powell just signed a three-year contract extension for $11.2 million. He’s on an affordable deal, he’s a nice locker room presence, and yet the Jets are trying to axe him?
As the Million Dollar Man once said, “everybody’s got a price,” and that statement couldn’t be truer. But my price isn’t a late-round conditional pick. I’d only trade Powell if I got back a really nice pick (third-round conditional, maybe). Why else would you get rid of a productive offensive weapon?
By bringing in veteran running backs for visits, you’re basically screaming from the rooftop that Powell is available. That isn’t logical business practice. Maccagnan, before you pull the trigger on Powell, just think long and hard about it. That’s all I ask.
