The Seahawks have agreed to acquire defensive lineman Sheldon Richardson and a 2018 seventh-round pick from the Jets in exchange for wide receiver Jermaine Kearse, a 2018 second-round pick, and a 2018 seventh-round pick, per Adam Schefter of ESPN.com (Twitter links).
The Jets and Seahawks had been discussing the concept of this deal for weeks, as Ian Rapoport of NFL.com tweets. New York, of course, had been shopping Richardson for much longer than that. Seattle reportedly showed interest earlier this year, but it wanted Richardson to accept a paycut from his $8.069MM base salary. This time around, the Seahawks agreed to take on his full salary. The Seahawks were able to take the hit after reworking receiver Doug Baldwin‘s contract and shedding Kearse’s $2.2MM salary in the trade.
Richardson certainly has his warts, which may have contributed to a limited trade market. For one, he wasn’t all that effective last season, as Richardson managed only 1.5 sacks in 15 games (though he still graded out as the NFL’s No. 31 edge defender, per Pro Football Focus). Richardson also comes with off-field question marks, as he has a substance abuse suspension in his past, and has dealt with commitment and tardiness issues.
But, if healthy and motivated, the addition of Richardson would give the Seahawks arguably the best front seven in the NFL. Richardson, who can conceivably play either along the edge or on the interior, would join a Seattle defensive unit that also includes Michael Bennett, Frank Clark, Cliff Avril, Bobby Wagner, and K.J. Wright on the front end, and the vaunted Legion of Boom in the back end.
The Jets, meanwhile, needed a wide receiver following a season-ending injury to Quincy Enunwa, and Kearse will add experience to a group that includes rookies ArDarius Stewart and Chad Hansen. Kearse, 27, posted 41 receptions for 510 yards a season ago, but Seattle has developed enough wideouts — including Paul Richardson, Tyler Lockett, and Kasen Williams — that Kearse wasn’t needed any longer. The Seahawks had been shopping him earlier this week, and the Browns were among the interested parties.
For a rebuilding club like New York, adding a veteran piece such as Kearse doesn’t make a ton of sense, so it’s possible the Jets took on Kearse simply to help offset Richardson’s salary. Gang Green won’t take on any dead money by trading Richardson, while Seattle will incur roughly $1.83MM in dead cap during the upcoming season as a result of dealing Kearse.
Gee Scott of ESPN Radio (on Twitter) first reported that Kearse had been traded to the Jets.
jets are stupid!!!!
Great move by the Hawks.
If the jets get a second or third round pick in the deal as reported, great deal for them considering there were barely any takers out there. Salary dump, draft pick and a WR to hold them over is a decent return.
Kearse has three of the biggest catches in franchise history, but other than those he’s dropped like every other pass thrown to him.
Another reclamation project for the Hawks, could be another piece to the best defense in Football. Will miss Kearney, but at least he will get some attention in NY, nothing coming his way in Seattle.
Even if it’s a one year rental, Seattle wins. If he leaves they get the 3rd round comp pick, so they trade a 2nd for a 3rd, move up from the end of the 7th to the beginning, and give up Kearse who wasn’t in their top 5 receivers anymore. All to add SR, in a contract year, to a top rated defense. Great move.
It’s not a stupid trade it’s a salary dump jets have more money now to do what they need to do plus they got back 2 extra pics nice job
I really like this trade for both sides. Wilkerson will be joining the 2nd best DE in the league in Bennett and could create a formidable pair. The Jets get a WR which they need desperately and a early round draft pick to help build for the future. Good job by both teams
I meant Richardson
Does the Seahawks agree to acquire Richardson, or did the jets agree to acquire the pick and Kearse?
Dallas Robinson’s can you clarify the pick exchange did Seattle trade a second round pick?
Jets get hearse a second and a seventh round pick
Jets get Kearse, a second, and they exchanged 7ths