The Jets moved from No. 16 to No. 12 and drafted defensive…
The Jets moved from No. 16 to No. 12 and drafted defensive end Shaun Ellis, a two-time Pro Bowler who played 184 career games and recorded 73.5 sacks. San Francisco moved back four spots, selected five-time Pro Bowler Julian Peterson, and added second-round cornerback Jason Webster. Ellis was an excellent return, but Peterson plus the extra starter gives the 49ers a narrow edge.
New York Jets Received
- pick 2000 1st round pick (12th overall, Shaun Ellis )
San Francisco 49ers Received
- pick 2000 1st round pick (16th overall, Julian Peterson )
- pick 2000 2nd round pick (48th overall, Jason Webster)
Trade Analysis
Why the Jets Moved Up
New York owned the 16th pick but chose to move four spots higher for Tennessee defensive end Shaun Ellis. The Jets sent No. 16 and No. 48 to San Francisco for No. 12, a clear statement that Ellis was worth sacrificing a second-round selection. That conviction was not misplaced. Ellis became a durable edge defender, played 184 career games, recorded 73.5 sacks and earned two Pro Bowl selections, spending the heart of his career in New York.
What San Francisco Built From the Return
The 49ers used No. 16 on linebacker Julian Peterson and No. 48 on cornerback Jason Webster. Peterson became the headline result. He played 158 games, earned five Pro Bowl selections and was named first-team All-Pro once, giving San Francisco a versatile defensive centerpiece. Webster was not a star, but he lasted nine NFL seasons and supplied additional starting experience. Turning one selection into that pair created excellent depth of value.
How the Two Stars Compare
Ellis and Peterson both justified first-round status, which keeps this from becoming a lopsided verdict. Ellis gave the Jets a long-tenured pass rusher and remained with the franchise through 2010. Peterson’s peak was higher from an honors standpoint, and San Francisco also received Webster. The extra player matters because the 49ers did not merely trade down and hope to match Ellis; they found another premier defender and preserved a useful second-round outcome.
Final Verdict
San Francisco 49ers Win, narrowly. The 49ers earn an A- for landing Peterson and Webster while moving down only four places. The Jets receive a B+ because Ellis became an excellent player and made the aggressive move defensible. This is the kind of trade in which both clubs can feel good about the result, but San Francisco extracted more total football value from the package.