New York Jets Blog

Calvin Pace and Damien Woody signed on the dotted line for a combined $33 million in guaranteed dollars, and the trade with the Bengals that would have rid the Jets of Dewayne Robertson hit a snag.

The Jets project Woody as their right tackle in 2008, a position he played for five games in 2007, after spending most of his career and guard and center, and Pace will play outside as a linebacker in Mangini’s 3-4 set.

I liked Woody as a value play in lieu of Alan Faneca, whom the Jets also signed this weekend, for half the guaranteed dollars. Now they’ll both play on the line together. Woody has a history with Mangini dating back to their days in New England, where Woody played until 2004.

These moves mean that the Jets won’t likely go after a lineman in the upcoming draft, though this year’s crop of tackles looks good, and it wouldn’t be a bad idea for the Jets to tab one, either in the 2nd round, or with one of their multiple 4th rounders.

Calvin Pace is the X-factor, high-risk, high-reward player. Considered a 1st round bust, 2007 was Pace’s first season playing in the 3-4, and he responded well to his new position, with 98 tackes (80 solo) six and a half sacks, and an interception. Tangini is banking he’ll fit in nicely with the young core they’ve assembled on defense, including David Harris, Kerry Rhodes, and Darrelle Revis.

Dewayne Robertson’s trade to the Bengals for draft choices hit a snag as his agent couldn’t work out a new deal with Cincinnati, which would require him to re-do his deal over the next two seasons, including for 2008, where he’d be due $11.2 million.

From a positional standpoint, Robertson would fit in much better as part of Marvin Lewis’ 4-3 defense, than he has in Mangini’s 3-4, where he’s been serviceable for the past two seasons, but not dominant.