Jets Still Trying to Trade Defensive End Shaun Ellis

According to Manish Mehta of the Newark Star-Ledger, the Jets are still attempting to trade veteran defensive end Shaun Ellis, but have found no takers. Ellis is going to be 33 years old next season and is in the last year of his deal, so it’s not surprising they haven’t found a trade partner.

Ellis was reportedly seeking a contract extension with the team, but that doesn’t appear likely. He was turned down by the team recently and will likely hit free agency after the season as the Jets are not expected to release Ellis as they did with Alan Faneca.

Faneca, however, was expendable in their eyes after drafting Vladimir Ducasse out of UMass in the second round. Ellis, at the very least, still provides depth at defensive end — a position at which the Jets are very thin.

Ellis is also scheduled to make nearly $2 million less than Faneca at $3.35 million this season — a very affordable number for a team with limited options to replace him.

Vernon Gholston, the sixth overall pick in the 2008 draft, was recently moved from outside linebacker to defensive end, so it’s possible the Jets see him as Ellis’ potential replacement. However, Gholston appears better suited to play 4-3 defensive end at 6’3″, 265 pounds.

Ellis is listed at 6’5″, 285 pounds, but probably plays closer to 295-300 pounds.

Defensive ends in the 3-4 have an odd job as they are expected to get their fair share of pressure on the quarterback, but are first expected to be able to play the run. Gholston, or most anyone else they bring in, would have a difficult time replicating the production Ellis has given them over the past 10 years.

With 3-4 defensive linemen at a premium and not many of them hitting free agency, expect the Jets to go young and try to draft someone to replace Ellis next season.