Why the Jones Deal Works So Well for the Jets

[JetNation]

Mike Tannenbaum done good.

Although the Thomas Jones trade isn’t grand larceny, as some of my media colleagues painted it (we’ll explain later), it still looks like a terrific deal for the Jets. Here’s why:

• The Jets needed a No. 1 back, and the market was shrinking. They had to act quickly, and they did.Ahman Green and Travis Henry signed with the Texans and Broncos, respectively. LaMont Jordan took a paycut yesterday in Oakland, meaning he won’t be released. Dominic Rhodes isn’t the Jets’ cup of tea, especially after his recent DUI arrest. Chris Brown? Yawn. T.J. Duckett? Double yawn. Michael Turner, a restricted free agent, would’ve cost at least a No. 1 pick.
  So, basically, it came down to Jones and the Redskins’ Ladell Betts, another trade possibility. The Jets talked to the Redskins about Betts, who is a year younger than Jones and more cost efficient (he signed a five-year extension last December for a modest $11 million). But the Jets felt more comfortable with Jones because of his larger body of work.
  
• The Jets don’t have to make a panic move on draft day. Scouts say it’s a thin running-back crop, with only two backs worthy of first-round consideration: Oklahoma’s Adrian Peterson and Cal’s Marshawn Lynch. To land Peterson, the Jets, picking 25th, would’ve had to trade into the top five, maybe top three. It would’ve cost their No. 1 pick, a starting player and perhaps a second- or third-round pick, a ridiculous price for a running back.
  Lynch? Too much off-the-field baggage for the Jets’ liking. They could’ve waited for Ohio State’s Antonio Pittman or Louisville’s Michael Bush in the second round, but why take another young back when they already have Leon Washington? They needed a veteran presence, and got one.
  
• Scouts say Jones is a good combination back, which means he should work well with Washington. Jones is durable, but he absorbs a lot of punishment because of his running style. He’s at his best when he’s not overworked. Here’s a breakdown of his productivity last season, according to STATS, LLC:
  Carries 1 to 15: 220 attempts, 942 yards, 4 touchdowns, 4.3 average per carry.
  Carries 16+: 76 attempts, 268 yards, 2 touchdowns, 3.5 average.

* * *

Now, as for the question of whether the Jets stole Jones from the Bears, let’s examine the trusty points system on the trade-value chart, used by teams through the NFL.

The Jets dropped 26 spots in the second round, from 37th to 63rd. The 37th pick (acquired last year from the Redskins) has a point value of 530; the 63rd pick is 276 points. The difference is 254 points, which equates to a very high third-round choice (67th overall, to be exact), according to the chart.

So you might say the Jets got Jones for a high third-rounder. It wasn’t an absolute robbery - after all, they pretty much dropped an entire round - but it was a good value nonetheless.

Look at it this way: If someone told you the Jets were acquiring Jones for the 59th pick (their own second rounder), you would’ve thought it was a fair deal. Turns out they had to give up a little less than that, which makes it a terrific deal for the Jets.

Unless Jones fails his physical (don’t expect another Lee Suggs debacle), the trade will be formally announced later today. Jones and the Jets agreed in principle last night on a long-term deal - my guess is five years - that includes about $12 million in guarantees.

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