The 2013 Darrelle Revis Trade: The Jets Sold an Injured Star for the Pick That Became Sheldon Richardson
Tampa Bay acquired Darrelle Revis for the No. 13 pick and conditional 2014 compensation. Revis made one Pro Bowl there, but the Buccaneers released him after one season.
New York Jets Received
- pick Draft-pick compensation
- pick 2013 1st round pick (13th overall, Sheldon Richardson)
- pick 2014 4th round pick (104th overall, Jalen Saunders)
Tampa Bay Buccaneers Received
- player Darrelle Revis
Trade Summary
The Jets traded Darrelle Revis to Tampa Bay for the No. 13 pick in the 2013 draft and later pick value, turning an injured star cornerback with contract tension into Sheldon Richardson. Revis still made a Pro Bowl with the Buccaneers, but Tampa Bay went nowhere and moved on after one season. New York got the stronger asset result and avoided the contract trap.
Trade Analysis
What the Trade Actually Did
The Jets traded Darrelle Revis to Tampa Bay in April 2013 for the Buccaneers' No. 13 overall pick and a conditional 2014 fourth-round selection. The later pick could have escalated if Revis remained on Tampa Bay's roster into the following league year. New York used No. 13 on defensive lineman Sheldon Richardson.
Why Tampa Bay Took the Risk
Revis had already established himself as one of the NFL's premier cornerbacks, but he was returning from a torn ACL and wanted a major new contract. Tampa Bay believed elite coverage talent was worth both the acquisition cost and the financial commitment.
Revis did return to play all 16 games and made the Pro Bowl in 2013. The problem was duration. Tampa Bay went 4-12, changed coaching staffs and released Revis in March 2014 rather than continue the contract. Because he was gone before the escalation date, the additional Jets compensation stayed a fourth-round pick.
What the Jets Received
Richardson immediately became a major contributor and won Defensive Rookie of the Year. He gave New York several productive seasons before the Jets later traded him to Seattle for additional value. The 2014 fourth-round selection added another asset to the original return.
New York therefore converted a star coming off a major knee injury, with a difficult contract situation, into a top-15 pick and another selection without carrying the long-term financial risk.
Why Revis' Quality Does Not Rescue Tampa Bay's Grade
The Buccaneers did acquire an excellent player. This is not a case where the incoming veteran could no longer perform. The issue is that they surrendered premium draft capital for only one season on a non-contending team, then released the player.
Final Verdict
The Jets win clearly. Tampa Bay received a Pro Bowl season, but New York turned an uncertain contract-and-injury situation into Richardson and additional draft value. One year of Revis on a 4-12 team could not justify the full acquisition cost.