The NFL trade deadline is coming up next week and while the event is not usually the exciting flurry that is the MLB trading deadline, this season could be a bit different, as evidenced by the Trent Richardson deal and one player that could be moved is Jacksonville Jaguars wide receiver Justin Blackmon.
According to Pro Football Talk, former Chiefs general manager Scott Pioli speculated that Blackmon could be a player that moves at the deadline due to some of his past attitude issues and the fact that the Jaguars will likely rebuild over the next couple years. The team has already been rumored to be looking at a Maurice Jones-Drew deal and the team also has already pulled off a surprising trade by moving former first round pick Eugene Monroe to the Ravens and now Blackmon could be the next first rounder to go.
General manager David Caldwell has said that the team wants to get as many draft picks as possible and since Blackmon was taken by the last regime, he could be open to moving him. The report from PFT says that the logical options are the Indianapolis Colts and the Atlanta Falcons, as each lost their number one receivers in Reggie Wayne and Julio Jones for the season. Blackmon is an athletic freak and he has shown that he has talent with over 300 yards in three games, but his off the field issues could be a problem, as he was suspended four games to start the season and now he is in danger of getting a year suspension with another mess up and the Jags may want to just cut and run.
The Browns and Josh Gordon are dealing with the same type of situation and he could be another player that gets moved, as ESPN.com has reported that the Browns have offers on the table for Gordon and that they want at least a high pick and a player and possibly more for him. Last season Gordon was explosive with 50 catches for 805 yards and this season he already has 27 catches for over 400 yards. The Jaguars are terrible this season and Blackmon has been one of the line bright spots, getting nearly 400 receiving yards in just three games.
Blackmon is averaging 128.0 yards per game to rank first in the league in three games and he has had 29 targets over the past two weeks and is coming off a six catch, 58 yard game against the Chargers. The first two weeks he played Blackmon was unstoppable, gaining 190 yards against the Broncos and 136 against the Rams, scoring a touchdown in that first game. He had 14 catches and 20 targets against Denver and this season he already has 25 catches on 38 targets for 384 yards in just three games. That type of production will make any player desirable and with the team 0-7, he could get moved.
Owner Shad Khan said to reporters this week that he is happy with the direction of the team under Gus Bradley and that he probably should have starter rebuilding sooner. The team now has choices to make regarding trades of Drew and Blackmon and going forward they could try and stock up draft picks so that they can truly start things over and moving Blackmon would be a step in that direction.
