Tampa Bay sent picks No. 125 and 204 to the Jets to move up…
Tampa Bay sent picks No. 125 and 204 to the Jets to move up to No. 107 for linebacker Kendell Beckwith. Beckwith started nine games and made 73 tackles as a promising rookie, but a serious ankle injury suffered in a 2018 auto accident ultimately ended his NFL career. New York moved No. 125 again and selected Chad Hansen, Jeremy Clark and Derrick Jones from the resulting capital, receiving little lasting value.
New York Jets Received
- pick 2017 4th round pick (125th overall; traded to the Los Angeles Rams for picks 141, Chad Hansen, and 197, Jeremy Clark; Los Angeles selected Samson Ebukam at 125)
- pick 2017 6th round pick (204th overall, Derrick Jones)
Tampa Bay Buccaneers Received
- pick 2017 3rd round pick (107th overall, Kendell Beckwith)
Trade Analysis
Tampa Bay moved from No. 125 to No. 107 late in the third round of the 2017 draft, sending the Jets an additional sixth-round selection at No. 204. The Buccaneers targeted LSU linebacker Kendell Beckwith even though he was still recovering from a college ACL injury, betting that his talent and versatility were worth the medical risk.
For one season, the bet looked excellent. Beckwith recovered in time for training camp, won the starting strongside linebacker job and moved inside when injuries hit Kwon Alexander and Lavonte David. He played all 16 games, started nine, recorded 73 tackles and handled communication responsibilities in the middle of the defense. Tampa Bay’s own retrospective described him as a potential star after that rookie performance.
The career then turned on an event unrelated to football. Beckwith suffered a severe ankle fracture as a passenger in an April 2018 automobile accident. He missed the entire 2018 season, returned briefly to practice but was never cleared for game action, and remained unable to resume his career. That outcome sharply limits Tampa Bay’s return even though the original player evaluation had worked.
New York did not capitalize on the extra picks. The Jets traded No. 125 to the Rams for later selections that became Chad Hansen and Jeremy Clark, while No. 204 became Derrick Jones. Those players provided little sustained Jets value. The move-down strategy created three opportunities, but none became a notable long-term contributor.
Because Beckwith’s career ended through an extraordinary injury after he had already demonstrated starting ability, Tampa Bay should not be graded as though the selection itself was poor. At the same time, one productive season cannot support a high grade.
The Buccaneers move to B-. The Jets fall to D+. Tampa Bay wins narrowly because Beckwith’s rookie year supplied the most meaningful NFL contribution produced by either side of the exchange.