WaitingForNextYear

Bill Kostroun / AP

Braylon Edwards helped the Jets lose to the Miami Dolphins yesterday in a divisional matchup.  Thanks to a victory in Oakland last week, the Jets are now 1-3 since adding the dynamic receiving threat to their roster.  Yesterday during the Miami game Braylon caught 4 balls including one touchdown.  He was targeted 8 times according to the ESPN box score.  As has been widely reported, Braylon needs to catch 55 balls in order for the Browns to turn that 3rd round pick into a 2nd round pick.

Braylon has 42 more catches to make.  The Jets have their bye this week just like the Browns.  After that, Braylon will have half a season (eight games, duh) to catch those 42 balls.  That means Braylon must average 5.25 catches per game over the second half of the season in order for the Browns to get the Jets’ second round pick.  Of course, there could be a lot of factors in play.

After yesterday’s game, the Jets are 4-4 and in second place behind the 5-2 Patriots.  The Jets have a moderate schedule the rest of the way.  They get to play Jacksonville, and Carolina at home and Buffalo, Tampa on the road. Those are the easier games left, but the Jets also have to play at New England and Indy, while also hosting Atlanta and Cincy before it is all said and done.  In fact, you better hope that the Jets are in it at the end of the season.

Those last three weeks the Jets play Atlanta, at Indy, and Cincinnati.  If they are out of the playoff hunt and Braylon is close to achieving his 55 catches, you have to think the Jets will sit him to avoid giving up their second round pick.  Then again, if the Jets have clinched anything by that point they could also afford to sit Braylon.  One thing that I don’t know is whether or not Braylon’s catch total related to the trade  includes the playoffs should the Jets make it.