The Justin McCareins Trade - How did we make out?

[Smizzy]

Desperate for a viable threat opposite WR Santana Moss, the New York Jets pulled off a trade to acquire WR Justin McCareins from the Tennessee Titans. The move, which was made in early March, landed the Jets McCareins in exchange for their 2004 second round draft pick. The Jets could have tried to sign McCareins, a restricted free agent at the time, to an offer sheet, but that would have cost them their first round pick had Tennessee elected not to match the offer. Instead, the Titans were willing to have McCareins sign their $1.368 million tender offer and then trade him away for a second rounder. The Titans used the pick they acquired, No. 42 overall, to select Hawaii DE Travis LaBoy, which they hope will help offset the loss of DE Jevon Kearse.

The Jets hit and missed when they signed WR Curtis Conway to a three-year deal in March 2003. Conway was supposed to serve as the veteran stopgap to fill the void left when WR Laveranues Coles signed with the Washington Redskins. The team had the option to match the offer made to Coles, but elected not to and received the 13th overall selection in the 2003 NFL draft as compensation. However, the Jets were extremely disappointed when Conway caught only 46 passes for 640 yards and 2 TDs, which fell short of Coles' 2002 production by 43 receptions, 624 yards and 3 TDs. The Jets have since cut their losses and released Conway, who was recently signed by the San Francisco 49ers.

With McCareins, the Jets get a big target (6-2, 215 lbs) who is entering the prime of his career. The 25-year-old McCareins, entering his fourth season in the league, is coming off his best year as a pro, when he caught 47 passes for 813 yards and 7 TDs. McCareins combines a rare breed of size and speed that the Jets lacked last season. Moss (5-10, 185 lbs), who played his way into the No. 1 WR role last year, has the world-class speed but lacks the size. In contrast, McCareins possesses both qualities. While four of his touchdowns came inside the red zone - three inside the five-yard line - two others came from more than 55 yards out.

In 2003, the Jets didn't possess a big goal-line threat in the passing game. From Week 9 on - when QB Chad Pennington (wrist) returned from a wrist injury - the Jets converted just seven passing touchdowns from inside the 15-yard line, with Moss (three) and TE Anthony Becht (two) leading the way. During the same time, McCareins had three such touchdowns. While there isn't a separation between him and the Jets' leaders in that category, the fact remains that the Titans had other big-play goal line threats in the passing game - WRs Drew Bennett (6-5, 203 lbs) and Tyrone Calico (6-4, 222 lbs) along with TEs Frank Wycheck (6-3, 250 lbs) and Erron Kinney (6-5, 280 lbs) - to turn to that the Jets didn't have last year and wouldn't have had in 2004 had they not acquired McCareins.

Strangely enough, the one-two tandem of Moss and McCareins for 2004 might actually be better on paper entering the season than the Jets' 2002 one-two tandem of Coles and WR Wayne Chrebet.

Table: Jets Nos. 1 and 2 WRs for 2002

Player Receptions Yards Touchdowns

WR Laveranues Coles 89 1,264 5

WR Wayne Chrebet 51 691 9

TOTALS 140 1,955 14

Table: Jets Nos. 1 and 2 WRs for 2004 (Stats from 2003)

Player Receptions Yards Touchdowns

WR Santana Moss 74 1,105 10

WR Justin McCareins 47 813 7

TOTALS 121 1,918 17

*Note: McCareins' stats are with the Tennessee Titans

While the tandem of Moss and McCareins caught 19 fewer passes than Coles and Chrebet, the two gained only 37 fewer yards and scored three more touchdowns. They are clearly a more explosive pair, as they averaged 15.9 yards per catch compared to Coles and Chrebet's 14.0 ypc.

As is apparent in the tables above, McCareins should be able to thrive alongside of an explosive receiver like Moss in the Jets' offense. As seen in 2002 - which was Pennington's first full season as the team's quarterback - Chrebet was still able to gain close to 700 yards and score 9 TDs, which is respectable for a No. 2 WR. This season, McCareins should be serving a similar role to what Chrebet served in 2002, with the added bonus of being a much bigger threat once the team enters the red zone than the diminutive Chrebet (5-10, 188 pounds). As a result, it shouldn't be surprising for McCareins to put up similar numbers to Chrebet's 2002 production with the possibility of exceeding those numbers due to his superior physical abilities.

At the same time, the tables show that McCareins' production should not take away from Moss' production all that much. The Jets' offense is more explosive now than it was in 2002, meaning that McCareins could put up solid numbers and still allow for Moss to have a solid season like he did last year. Moss, who is entering his fourth NFL season, had a breakout season last year and should continue to improve in 2004 as Pennington develops as well.

As for Chrebet, he was limited to just seven games last year due to concussions, and as of December, he was unsure if he was going to return for another season. However, he did participate in the team's offseason workouts in mid-April without complications from post-concussion syndrome, which means he may be leaning towards returning for his 10th NFL season. But, if he decides to retire, the Jets would likely be forced to turn to WRs Jonathan Carter or rookie fourth round pick WR Jerricho Cotchery. This is a great opportunity for McCareins to become a regular starter and should make him a legit No. 2 fantasy receiver in 2004.

With the 42nd pick the Titans ended up getting Travis Laboy.

How do you think we made out?

[bitonti]

jury is still out on LeBoy but so far the Jets got great value in that deal.

[sirlancemehlot]

It's not what the Titans got vs. what we got. That's a totally cockeyed way of looking at things. For that matter, what did we get for a starting-caliber, battle-tested LB in Sam Cowart? A 7th rounder. The question is whether or not J-mac lived up to his contract and expectations. He put up stats comparable to Curtis Conway's the year before. He started two more games than Santana, yet Moss outgained him in total yardage. He was never a deep threat. He never took over a game and, yes, I'll say it, he has never broken the 100yd mark in a game. Not even when he played for the Dinger and had Steve McNair throwing to him. Jury's still out. But I don't love him and that's the truth. He's expensive, and he's proven nothing to me.

[Barton]

He got way too much money for never really doing any great and still hasnt done anything since his contract.

He is still really overpaid.

[sirlancemehlot]

He got way too much money for never really doing any great and still hasnt done anything since his contract.

He is still really overpaid.

Not only that, but Mc Careins is really hard to spell. Where's Al Toon when you need him? Or Wesley Walker--there you've got a poetic name with alliteration and a player with one eye and an afro who can outrun anybody coming up on his left side.

[Smizzy]

It's not what the Titans got vs. what we got. That's a totally cockeyed way of looking at things.

Of course not...However since thats who they drafted i was just throwing him out there.

[sirlancemehlot]

Of course not...However since thats who they drafted i was just throwing him out there.

Admit it! You were throwing him out there because you love typing "LaBoy". Hell, who doesn't?

LaSchmoove maybe