It's Time for the Jets to Cut Their Losses With Dewayne Robertson

Dewayne Robertson won't go down as the greatest bust in New York Jets draft history. Blair Thomas, Johnny "Lam" Jones and Dave Cadigan made sure of that. But, given the two first-round picks given up to get him and the millions of dollars paid him, he's certainly a waste of the fourth overall selection in the 2003 draft. He's got no place in the middle of a 3-4 defensive line and a huge cap number, which is why the team's been trying to trade him.

Two such deals have already failed as did an attempt to fold him into the Kris Jenkins trade. While the Panthers weren't interested in that move, they aren't totally opposed to adding Robertson to their roster. The Charlotte Observer reports that if and when he's released, they'd be interested in bringing him aboard.

If that happens, sources say Carolina likely will get involved, though it isn't clear how much they'd be willing to pay. The Panthers desperately need defensive tackle help and Robertson is superior to the other free agents currently available at that position.

It would seem that the Jets will get a similar response from any potential trading partners, all of whom would gladly snap up Robertson as a free agent. That would leave the Jets the following options for dealing with Robertson:

Keeping him - This seems unwise given the salary cap space he'll take up and the need to move him to defensive end to salvage anything from him on the field.

Renegotiating his contract - Hard to see Robertson agreeing to take less money to play a new position in a scheme not suited to his skills. As a free agent, he could pick his situation, i.e. a 4-3 front, and have a chance to thrive and, therefore, make more money down the road. Also, with the thwarted trades and Robertson's absence from workouts, there wouldn't appear to be too many good feelings between player and team.

Try to trade him after the draft - There's a possibility that a team could trade some conditional draft picks in 2009 if they don't get the defensive line help they need next month. Since his $3 million bonus isn't due until June they'd have some time to figure it all out. Still, teams are going to be wary of dealing for him with his current contract and then renegotiating it. That's what sunk the Denver trade.

Releasing him - They need the cap space after the spending spree, need to move on to dealing with players that will actually be helpful in 2008 and beyond and that's where this is headed anyway. As the song goes, you've gotta know when to fold 'em and that time has come.