The Cleveland Browns have traded WR Braylon Edwards to the New York Jets for a package that — according to Jay Glazer — includes WR Chansi Stuckey, LB Jason Trusnick, and two draft picks.
More to come, but here is my initial reaction to this deal from a Browns perspective: I love it.
And from a Jets perspective: I love it.
I think this trade trade defines the term “win-win” as the Jets gets a very talented player who needed a new situation, while the Browns get rid of a player that fans never really embraced and a WR whose lack of focus consistently hurt the team and probably was not going to improve.
One of the main reasons I love this deal for the Browns is that Braylon’s contract is up at the end of the season and there is no way he was coming back. Braylon’s reported punching of LeBron’s friend this week was the last straw in the disintegration of his relationship with the city of Cleveland.
Now, instead of Braylon just walking after another playoff-less season in Cleveland, the Browns actually get some value for him.
Chansi Stuckey does not have Braylon’s game-breaking ability, but he is a young player with some upside. While Braylon is entering his fifth season, Stuckey is only in his second season and is far from a finished product. He could really have an opportunity to blossom as a top target for Derek Anderson the rest of this season.
Jason Trusnick is nothing more than a special teams player, but he did go to college at Ohio Northern. So the Browns go rid of the Michigan alum with the maize-and-blue mouthpiece and bring in a scrappy Ohioan. You have to like that right?
Plus, there is value in the draft picks the Browns received, although I have not yet seen it reported what those draft picks are. I was planning on writing a post this morning asking if the Browns should try to get a 3rd or 4th round pick for Edwards. I would assume that one of the picks is either a 3rd or 4th.
From Braylon’s perspective, I like this deal because it gives him the change of scenery he obviously wanted and allows him to go to a bigger market where he can more effectively market himself. Obviously it has to start with better play on the field, but Braylon can become a much bigger star in New York than he ever would have been in Cleveland.
I’m not sure he is a good enough player anymore for it to matter, but it certainly matters to him. Thus, I think the Jets will get a rejuvenated and refocused Braylon Edwards, which should pay dividends for them this season.
Braylon also wants a new contract and will not get to have a 12+ week audition for one of his primary offseason suitors. As reported by PFT this morning, the Jets traded for Braylon without signing him to an extension.
Honestly, I find it really hard to see any negatives in this deal on any side. Please chime in if you disagree, but I think this is one of those cases where every party can walk away from a deal really feeling like their present and future is improved. That is a rare feat, so kudos to the Jets and Browns for getting it done.
Update: According to PFT, via Schefter, the draft picks are reportedly a 3rd and 5th.
About Jerod Morris
Very good trade. GO jets! this will help sanchez for sure
I agree. I think New York will get a different Braylon Edwards than what we saw recently in Cleveland. Braylon is overrated, but is still a talented WR if he can get his head on straight. Certainly I think he can be a more polished and explosive asset than Chansi Stuckey for the rest of this season.
Braylon is an attention whore who it seems wants to be a celeb more than a football player. This makes New York either the best…or the worst city he could land in. We'll see how he does in New York, but, he couldn't even get open last week against the Bengals. Meanwhile, a rookie goes off for 150 yards receiving. Legitimate deep threats don't drop passes as much as he does. I'm glad Mangini, for all his downside so far, is trying to establish a team-first mentality in Cleveland.
Also, is this going to deter LeBron from going to NY because he doesn't want his friends to get punched?
Great point about LeBron and New York, although I think the Nets and/or Knicks would do whatever is necessary to jettison Braylon from the city if it would so much as annoy LeBron that he was there and deter him from coming.
Great for the Browns. As strange as it may sound, I think Edwards, Quinn and Lewis being off the field will give us the chance to win a few games this year.
As strange as it is to read and say…I agree with you.
Great for both sides.
This gives the Jets more than Mark "Franchez" or "Sanchize" on offense, and the
Browns also get a good look for the future.
Excellent fit for both.
Agree completely.