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Calvin Pace has continued to decline since the moment he signed his contract extension earlier this year. The New York Jets linebacker at the time was coming off a 10-sack season and looked like he could pick up exactly where he left off this year. Needless to say, he hasn’t resembled anything he did last season as he’s not able to keep up with the offenses coming his way. That’s why the Jets should try to trade him in the upcoming offseason.
The Jets will be heading into a long rebuilding phase the moment this season is over. Due to their disastrous record this year, many changes are coming that should include a complete overhaul. No one will ever really know what major changes are coming to coaches, front office or upper management, but when it comes to players, Pace should be on the trading block.
It could very well be that due to the Jets’ current base 3-4 defense, Pace is simply not the right fit to hold down the outside linebacker position anymore. Considering that he’s 34 years old, he doesn’t have the pass rushing skills to get the job done consistently. This kind of defense is built on shutdown cornerbacks and speedy linebackers who can react quickly on the field.
Pace hasn’t been able to get the same kind of pressure or impact he did last season. It also doesn’t help that he drops easy interceptions but could actually thrive on a new team with a defense that is built around his strengths. While he’s lost a bit of speed, he still is a tackling machine and has yet to miss a start in the past four years with the Jets. He could be the right veteran that a desperate team needs to help bolster those around him.
In what could be a good trade with the right team, Pace could command at least a few draft picks or maybe an up-and-coming cornerback that the Jets could mold for the future. Perhaps the Jets could even get a better pass rusher to help fellow outside linebacker Quinton Coples get the support he needs to thrive.
Overall, Pace should be traded since he’s very cap-friendly at just $2.38 million for 2015 and signed with the Jets until 2016. He’s a proven veteran who could be a nice leader on defense in the right system.
Luis Tirado Jr. is a New York Jets writer for www.RantSports.com. Follow him on Twitter @LTJ81, like him on Facebook or add him to your network on Google
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