Jets “Actively Shopping” DL Sheldon Richardson, Have Called Cowboys

Update:

Pro Football Talk is reporting that the Hets are “actively shopping” DL Sheldon Richardson in the hours leading up the trade deadline.

• Todd Archer reports that the Jets have called “lots of teams” including the Cowboys regarding a trade involving Richardson.
• Jason La Canfora hears that the odds of the Jets trading Richardson are “remote.”
• Ralph Vacchiano reports that a Richardson-trade is “not likely, but not impossible.”
• Michael Lombardi confirms that the Jets are “trying hard” to trade Richardson but they’re asking for a first-round pick. Lombardi wonders if they would take a second- or third-round pick for Richardson.

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According to Todd Archer of ESPN, the New York Jets have contacted the Dallas Cowboys about a potential trade involving DL Sheldon Richardson.

However, Archer mentions that Richardson is to make $8.069 million next season as part of his fifth-year option and has had some off-field issues in the past that led to him being suspended for the first game of the season, so a deal appears to be unlikely.

Instead, Archer makes the case for the Cowboys to consider adding a cornerback who’s under contract for a few years, rather than rent a pass-rusher.

A few days ago, Ian Rapoport of NFL Media reported that NFL teams have been calling the Jets about the availability of Richardson and there were talks about a potential trade.

Richardson recently admitted that he has heard the reports that teams have been inquiring about a potential trade involving him in recent days.

“I just heard them today. This morning,” Richardson said, via Kimberly A. Martin of Newsday. “…It’s big business. That’s what it is. We’ve got a surplus of defensive linemen that are capable of being starters. And they drafted Leo, paid Mo . . . So we’ll see.”

The Jets elected to lock up Muhammad Wilkerson a few months ago and have former first-round pick Leonard Williams, so they could face a tough situation when it comes to locking up Richardson up.

Richardson, 25, is a former first-round pick of the Jets back in 2013. He’s currently in the fourth year of his four-year, $10.054 million rookie contract and stands to make a base salary of $1.776 million for the 2016 season.

The Jets elected to pick up Richardson’s fifth-year option a few months ago, which means he’s under team control through the 2017 season and will make a bases salary of $8.069 million.

In 2016, Richardson has appeared in six games and recorded 28 tackles, 1.5 sacks, and a fumble recovery for the Jets. Pro Football Focus has him rated as the No. 12 edge defender out of 102 qualifying players.

We’ll have more regarding a potential trade involving Richardson as the news is available.