The Jets have traded 27-year old safety Kerry Rhodes to the Cardinals for a 4th round pick in 2010 and a 7th round pick in 2011.  Rhodes played in all 16 games for the Jets last season in which he made 63 tackles, defensed 13 passes, had 2 tackles for a loss and 3 interceptions.  Rhodes played in 80 games in his time with the Jets and he made 417 tackles, he had 9 sacks, 6 forced fumbles, he defensed 47 passes and he had 15 interceptions.  This was a good trade for the Jets because he was often in Rex Ryan’s Dog House.

The Jets have released 29-year old cornerback Donald Strickland.  Strickland played in 9 games for the Jets last season and he had 26 tackles, 2 sacks, 1 tackle for a loss, 1 forced fumble and 2 passes defensed.  The Jets will look to upgrade the nickel cornerback spot in either the draft or free agency.

The Jets have acquired 25-year old cornerback Antonio Cromartie from the Chargers for a conditional third round pick in 2011.  That pick could escalate into a 2nd rounder depending on how much P.T. Cromartie gets in 2010 and how well the Jets do during the season.  Still that was a small price to pay for a good young corner to team with Darrelle Revis.  Cromartie played in all 16 games for the Chargers last season and he had 33 tackles, defensed 10 passes and he had 3 interceptions.  He has now played in 64 games in his NFL career and he has made 165 tackles, defensed 41 passes and he has 15 interceptions (two of which he returned for TDs).  Cromartie also returned 19 kickoffs for 442 yards (23.3 avg) for the Chargers.  I love this move for the Jets.

The Jets have released 28-year old cornerback Lito Sheppard.  Sheppard played in 11 games for the Jets last season and he made 31 tackles, defensed 8 passes and he had 1 interception.  Sheppard was a huge disappointment last season for the Jets and he will be easily replaced.

The Jets are confident that Leon Washington will be able to give them a lot of production in 2010 as long as he can stay healthy.  Washington played in 7 games for the Jets last season and he carried the ball 72 times for 331 yards (4.6 ypc).  He also caught 15 passes for 131 yards (8.7 avg) last season for the Jets.  Washington’s season ended with a broken leg in 2009 but reports are that his recovery is coming along quite well.  Washington has now played in 55 games in his four years with the Jets and he has carried the ball 370 times for 1,782 yards (4.8 ypc) with 13 TD runs.  Washington also has caught 123 passes for 969 yards (7.9 avg) with 2 TD grabs in his time with the Jets.  Washington has a perfect skill set to combine with Shonn Greene’s to give the Jets dynamic play again in 2010 out of the running back position.