Another trade option for a promising young edge rusher?

[Green Jets & Ham]

Mac admitted he's searching for an upgrade at RUSH OLB and he's entertaining "trade possibilities" too.

Thats as close as you will get in this league to an admission from a GM that he is actively talking to other teams to fill a specific need.

That said ...

If the Jags don't bite on a straight swap, Bridgewater for Fowler, I think I know who will and its a good trade for both sides, both filling huge needs for backups (on their respective teams), which makes them expendable if what we are getting back is of more value to us than to them, and visa versa.

That said, I would suggest MAC gives Tampa a call and offers them a straight swap of Bridgewater for edge rusher, Noah Spence.

Spence was a pretty dynamic edge rusher in college and the Bucs drafted him high in round two, but even more than Fowler he was drafted into the wrong scheme. He was 6' 2" and 228 Pounds with the Bucs and asked to play DE in the 4-3. Thats laughable. This player was strictly a 3-4 RUSH OLB prospect and everyone knew it. Despite that, he still registered 6.5 Sacks as a rookie situational pass rusher, then got steamrolled and hurt in year two, entirely predictable, he did not belong in the trenches.

This off season he worked hard, ate right and added weight, now he's all the way up to 260, but the Bucs knew he was miscast as a 4-3 DE so they went out and acquired both JPP and Vinny Curry, essentially making Spence a backup DE. Oh, and like Fowler he's still only 24 years old.

That said, what they need a hell of a lot more than an undersized backup DE is a QB. Winston is suspended for the first three games and lets face it, his character is a train-wreck waiting to happen, and thats been the case going back to Florida State. First they need a legit starter for the first three weeks, cause right now that guy is RYAN FITZPATRICK (God help them), but they also need a reliable backup who can start and win in this league, like the Eagles, because they can't depend on Winston NOT self-destructing and they know it.

So if I'm MAC and the Jags don't want Bridgewater for Fowler, I call the Bucs (TODAY) and offer them Bridgewater for Spence, who IMO instantly gets penciled in as a RUSH OLB with the Jets and instantly becomes the best edge rusher on the team, young and with plenty of upside in the right scheme.

 

[Green Jets & Ham]

Dude was totally miscast as a 4-3 DE, its no wonder he got steamrolled and hurt last year.

This guy is a 3-4 OLB, period, even with the added weight, and I'm sure he can easily drop ten pounds to add back some quickness.

 

[TonyFtLaud]

Your really grasping at straws now.
Since joining the Bucks, he has had 2 labrum tears.
Prior to that was kicked out of Ohio State and was banned from the Big 10 for life.
Has been in treatment for extasy addiction and then was arrested for drunk and disorderly conduct.
Definitely some one Mac should avoid at all cost.

 

[Green Jets & Ham]

Your really grasping at straws now.
Since joining the Bucks, he has had 2 labrum tears.
Prior to that was kicked out of Ohio State and was banned from the Big 10 for life.
Has been in treatment for extasy addiction and then was arrested for drunk and disorderly conduct.
Definitely some one Mac should avoid at all cost.

All true, including the part about being in treatment, and in fairness he seems to have taken his recovery seriously because he hasn't failed a test in college or the pros in three years, and you know based on his history that he gets tested out the wazoo. But no failed tests at Eastern Kentucky, where he transferred too following his stint in a rehab, and no failed tests in the NFL either ... three years in total and obviously under close scrutiny.

As for getting hurt, of course he got hurt.

You put a 228 Pound player in the trenches in the NFL and you should be tried for attempted manslaughter.

 

[TonyFtLaud]

All true, including the part about being in treatment, and in fairness he seems to have taken his recovery seriously because he hasn't failed a test in college or the pros in three years, and you know based on his history that he gets tested out the wazoo. But no failed tests at Eastern Kentucky, where he transferred too following his stint in a rehab, and no failed tests in the NFL either ... three years in total and obviously under close scrutiny.

As for getting hurt, of course he got hurt.

You put a 228 Pound player in the trenches in the NFL and you should be tried for attempted manslaughter.

He gets tested once per year same as every other player in the NFL. Unless he popped positive for weed on a league issued test, that would not be made public and he would be in the league mandated testing protocol.
As for the injuries, regardless of the cause, 2 labrum tears means he's damaged goods and is likely to have issues with the shoulder the rest of his career.
There are better options in next year's draft and the pick we are likely to get for Bridgewater is worth more than Spence or Fowler.
Also to clarify, Mac was asked about the position and he said first, there are young guys on the roster who we expect to step up , there are guys who come available on cut down day and sometimes trades pop up. We're always looking to improve the roster , that goes for several positions.

 

[BlindsideD'Brick]

Glad to see Macc publicly acknowledge what most of us have been saying for years. A good edge rusher elevates this defense into top 10 status. The problem is, these guys don’t grow on trees. And most teams aren’t exactly eager to trade them away or cut them.

I doubt we’ll be acquiring anyone of significance this year. It’ll probably be a waiver wire pickup of someone looking for a second chance, like Bark Mingo a few years ago.