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Buffalo Bills Rumors: Should Fred Jackson be on the Trading Block?

Friday, January 27, 2012

BuffaloBills.com
By Robert Neely
Featured NFL Writer

It was the best of times, and the worst of times for Buffalo Bills running back Fred Jackson this season.

Jackson had an terrific first half of the season, rushing for 934 yards and six touchdowns and catching 39 passes for 442 yards in the first 10 games of the season.

But in the Bills' 10th game against the Miami Dolphins, Jackson suffered a broken bone in his left leg and had to go on the injured reserve list.

Jackson should be healthy and ready to go in 2012; but the Bills must answer the question of whether they should welcome him back or trade him for draft picks.

Why would the Bills trade a player as productive as Jackson? The two big reasons are:

1) The emergence of C.J. Spiller
2) Jackson's contract status

Let's break down both of these issues and see whether the Bills should trade Jackson.

The emergence of Spiller

Spiller, the Bills' first-round pick (ninth overall) in the 2010 draft, got off to a slow start in his career. Things got so bad that the Bills had basically moved Spiller to slot receiver at midseason in 2011.

After Jackson's injury, Spiller got another chance to be a lead back, and he delivered. He had 446 rushing yards over the final six games of the season, and averaged 5.0 yards per carry over that span.

He also showed that he is a receiving threat like Jackson, catching 24 passes and averaging 7.8 yards per catch.

Spiller totalled five touchdowns over the final six games, and his explosiveness was a badly needed jolt to the Bills' offense. While his 5'11" and 198-pound frame will likely require him to split carries with another back, Spiller should be good enough to be a dominant player in such a time share.

Jackson's contract status

Jackson signed a four-year contract extension in 2009, when he was a valuable backup to Marshawn Lynch. Since that deal, Jackson took Lynch's job and became Buffalo's lead running back.

In that role, he was underpaid - and Jackson made sure everyone knew it. He complained publicly about his contract more than once, including when the Bills (and Jackson) had such a hot start to the 2011 season.

Now that Jackson faces a legitimate challenge from Spiller, it would not be surprising if his calls for a new contract get louder. Jackson has one year left on his deal, and would be a bargain at $1.83 million for the 2012 season.

Jackson, who turns 31 in February, knows that he doesn't have a lot of time left in the NFL, even though his career started at a later age. That will motivate him to push for a new contract, even if it becomes a distraction to what the Bills are trying to do.

That's another reason to trade Jackson.

His contract means he will be easy to deal, because just about any team could fit him under the salary cap. However, Jackson would likely demand a new deal from whatever team he is traded to, which will knock several pursuers out of the mix.

Still, Jackson's performance and value may allow the Bills to get a mid-round pick in exchange for the solid pro. If the offered pick reaches the third-round range (which is a reach), the Bills would be crazy to say no to a deal.

   

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