Another day, another fold to the saga that has become Darrelle Revis. With only two weeks until the NFL draft, Revis is still a member of the New York Jets. While trade talks between the team and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers have heated up and cooled down as the Jets appear unwilling to change their trade deal for the cornerback. Now, Tampa Bay is saying they would be willing to trade their first-round No. 13 overall pick to the Jets, but nothing else.
The No.13 pick remained the ultimate breaking point of this trade. Tampa Bay had been adamant that they would not give their first pick away, but instead would give the Jets their first pick in the 2014 draft. The Jets are not settling for anything less than the team's 2013 first-round pick. They are not willing to negotiate any further. However, it is now reported that Tampa Bay is willing to give up their top selection.
If in fact this trade does for sure happen, which it is likely it will, the Jets would have the No. 9 pick and No. 13 pick in the first round of the draft. The Jets are likely to lose Revis at some point in the year anyways, whether it is to a trade or to free agency. They seem unwilling to pay Revis the long-term deal he is demanding. Tampa Bay is the only team pursuing Revis that will give up what the Jets are demanding as well as pay Revis his desired contract.
Revis is currently being forced to attend the Jets' offseason workout program after he requested to be excused from them for the next two weeks. The team told Revis he would have to attend if he wanted to earn his $3 million in bonus money. He originally wanted to stay back in Arizona and finish his rehabbing with doctors. Revis is coming off of season-ending ACL surgery after only playing in two games last season.
With this, the Buccaneers will be able to evaluate Revis from a medical standpoint. They are willing to pay the cornerback upwards of $15 million per year if he is healthy and ready to play. At this point, it is not a matter of if this trade will get done, but when this trade will get done. Tampa Bay seems ready to give the Jets what they are demanding. Revis will likely be headed to the Buccaneers before the draft and the Jets will get their desired first round pick.