KJ deal would hit Browns' cap hard

Tony Grossi reports on the KJ-to-Jets rumors, verifying that the Jets have inquired. Besides the obvious impact of losing a very good player, such a trade would result in a 2.8 million dollar cap hit this season. Ouch. Policy is on the record as saying that a trade is extremely unlikely, but that could merely be a move to push the Jets for a better deal than the 2nd roudn pick they are reportedly offereing. There's a chance the Jets could ante up a first round pick for KJ as they hold two selections, the 13th and 22nd. In recent years Johnson's rumored trade value was no more than a 2nd or 3rd round pick.

If the Jets sweeten the deal --- and it's debatable that they would -- I think the team must seriously consider it. In fact, if not for the salray cap ramifications the team would probably do it in a heartbeat. Although the cap hit would be painful, it is not THAT bad -- by definition the cap hit is all in one year, meaning the team frees up money for the 2004. So it depends on if the coaches think they've got enough other worthy coontributors on the team. A trade of KJ probably means Robert Griffith's departure, meaning Little and Jameson are the likely starting safeties, and another receiver plays in 4-wide sets. Frisman Jackson, Andre King, and Dimitrius Breedlove (gotta love that name) would be the current candidates.

Considering the turnover so far this offseason, I'd rate the chances of a KJ trade a lot higher than what we're hearing right now from Policy.