The Jets moved from No. 76 to No. 65 in the 2009 third round…
The Jets moved from No. 76 to No. 65 in the 2009 third round to select running back Shonn Greene. Detroit received Nos. 76, 115 and 228, turning those choices into DeAndre Levy, Sammie Lee Hill and Lydon Murtha. Greene contributed for New York, but the Lions gained three selections and found substantial defensive value, giving Detroit the clear win.
Detroit Lions Received
- pick 2009 third round pick (#76- DeAndre Levy )
- pick 2009 fourth round pick (#115- Sammie Lee Hill )
- pick 2009 seventh round pick (#228- Lydon Murtha )
New York Jets Received
- pick 2009 third round pick (#65- Shonn Greene )
Trade Analysis
The Exchange
New York moved up eleven spots in the 2009 third round, sending Detroit picks No. 76, No. 115 and No. 228 for No. 65. The Jets used the higher choice on Shonn Greene. Detroit used its three selections on DeAndre Levy, Sammie Lee Hill and Lydon Murtha, giving the Lions three separate roster opportunities from one trade-down. New York Jets Return Greene was not a failed selection. He became a productive part of the Jets' rushing attack and contributed during a period when New York made deep playoff runs. The Jets therefore received real football value for the price they paid. The problem is the scale of the cost: moving eleven spots required two additional selections, so Greene had to outperform a three-player return to justify the exchange fully. Detroit Lions Return Detroit's return was led by Levy, who developed into a major defensive contributor, while Hill also supplied useful interior-line snaps. Murtha added another draft opportunity even though the seventh-round component carried limited expected value. The Lions transformed one pick into multiple players and received meaningful production from the most important of those selections, making the trade-down especially successful. Value in Hindsight This is a strong example of how draft volume can compound when the receiving team identifies contributors. Greene gave New York useful years, so the Jets did not leave empty-handed. Detroit nevertheless gained both quantity and quality, with Levy providing the kind of return that can justify the trade by himself while the additional selections widened the gap further. Final Verdict Detroit earns an A and the Jets a C-. New York acquired a productive running back, but the price created too much value on the other side. The Lions added three picks, landed a high-level defender in Levy and received additional roster help. That combination makes Detroit the clear winner even while acknowledging that Greene was a legitimate contributor for New York.