Making the case for the Jets to trade Bilal Powell

The New York Jets added yet another running back via free agency. They might very well consider trading Bilal Powell due to a crowded situation and to at least get one more pick heading to the 2018 NFL Draft.

In case you missed it, the New York Jets signed another running back via free agency in Thomas Rawls. While it didn’t make sense at the time that they acquired a running back that is mostly known for being hurt, perhaps there was a greater meaning in the grand scheme of things.

Could the Jets consider trading away running back Bilal Powell in order to perhaps gain another draft pick in the 2018 NFL Draft? At this point in time besides Powell, the Jets have Isaiah Crowell, Elijah McGuire, and Rawls. Yes, the depth at running back is good to a degree but maybe trading Powell to get another pick in this year’s draft wouldn’t be the end of the world.

Think about it for a moment. Besides being underutilized on offense, perhaps a reason why the Jets don’t give Powell starting duties is due to the fact that he tends to get injured more often than not. Having played for seven years now in the NFL and combined with the fact that Powell will turn 30-years-old in late October, means now is as good a time as ever to see if teams are interested in trading for his services.

Ideally, it would make sense for the Jets to trade Powell to at least get a mid or late round pick in this year’s draft. At this point in time, the Jets have six picks heading into April and having one more would be in line with what the majority of teams have in their arsenal.

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It’s hard to predict what the Jets could get in return for trading Powell as it’s unlikely they’d get anything higher than a third-round pick. Either way, it would make sense to trade Powell now considering that the Jets will probably not give him starting duties yet again and likely have Crowell be on top of the depth chart for next season.

Crowell is younger, has made more of an impact in his career statistically, and can also be a dual-threat running back coming out of the backfield as an eligible receiver. McGuire should be able to get more reps this upcoming season, likely to play in a backup/rotational role. If Rawls can prove to be healthy, he might be worth keeping around and it would also make sense for the Jets to draft another running back to continue adding youth to the positional group.

If the Jets are going to have another season of not using Powell to his potential or if they feel he’s going to continue being a liability in missing playing time due to injury, it’s best they trade him for a draft pick and move on.

Powell is entering the last year of his contract as he’s set to be an unrestricted free agent in 2019. Now would be the best time to trade him if the Jets want to at least get one more pick for this year’s draft. While it would be a shame to see him go, as always, the NFL is a business and nothing personal. The Jets are set at running back without Powell and if they can replace him on the roster with a newly drafted player in the positional group, it’ll be what is best as the franchise continues to rebuild for a bright future.