Jets Game Changing Offseason Moves: Trading for Santonio Holmes

by John B on Jun 4, 2010 7:00 AM EDT

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It was only one year ago Jerricho Cotchery was the only established receiver on the roster. The Jets were considering trotting out the likes of Chansi Stuckey, David Clowney, Brad Smith, and Wallace Wright in starting roles. An early season trade for Braylon Edwards solidified the starting spot opposite Cotchery. The offseason steal of Santonio Holmes gave Gang Green an elite receiving corps.

It is not often a 26 year old Super Bowl MVP coming off a 1,200 yard season is available let alone traded for a fifth round pick. There are good reasons Holmes was available for such a cheap price. His contract is up after the year, and he has a ton of off field baggage. He will sit out the first four games of the year for violating the league's substance abuse policy and will get an even more serious punishment if he violates again. Pittsburgh's quarterback gave the team enough PR for management's taste this offseason.

While there are clear risks, the potential benefits outweigh them by far. The Jets got a top notch receiver for next to nothing. He is playing for a new contract, which should provide extra motivation to stay on the straight and narrow. If he does not, the team can cut ties after the season.

Very few teams have secondaries capable of matching up with three above average starting wideouts like the Jets will have in 2010. Gang Green is sure to depend on the passing game more in Mark Sanchez's second season than in the first, but the benefits to the run game will be huge. Teams will be much more hesitant to stick eight in the box with two deep threats in Edwards and Holmes on the outside.

Jerricho Cotchery also will enjoy life when he moves inside in three receiver sets to work the slot. His route running and physicality give him an almost unfair edge against the average nickel. Considering the attention the other weapons will draw, he stands a great chance of being the most productive slot target in the game.

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Comments

I’m not thrilled he is here yet. He will miss the first 4 games and if he fails a drug test again he is out a full season.

Through this draft, it is clear we are staying with a ground and pound. We wont have 3 receiver sets regularly. Holmes is a solid talent but he is a rental. If only we could have gotten Arthur Jones or Cam Thomas instead.

by jets47 on Jun 4, 2010 10:38 AM EDT reply actions

He’s a solid receiver however. More than solid actually. And if Braylon has a big year and we’re unable to re-sign him, we’ll likely have a very good shot at re-signing Holmes. If we can somehow resign Braylon AND resign Holmes, well than tickle me silly.

by Crackback on Jun 4, 2010 11:07 AM EDT up reply actions

This guy is too good to be looked at as a rental. As Sanchez matures we will be passing more and we will need quality receivers for him to throw to. I would be very surprised if we don’t try to sign Holmes or Edwards to a new contract. I don’t think there will be enough moolah to sign both with all of the other high priority signings we will be going through, but I agree with CB that it would be great if we could.

by 96 Tears on Jun 4, 2010 9:20 PM EDT up reply actions

He will fill the deep threat roll that will draw coverage away from the running attack at the least .

The laws in theCity of New York will not sit well with this strange cat ! Hope that his first offense is a small one because it will happen . The city ill be rougher on him than his roll for the Jets .

by gothicpurple on Jun 4, 2010 12:27 PM EDT reply actions