It is now official: Darrelle Revis is a member of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
Revis has easily been the best cornerback in the NFL since being drafted in 2007 as the 14th overall pick by the New York Jets. The Pittsburgh-alum's abilities to shut down opposing wide receivers has given him the popular nickname of "Revis Island."
The Buccaneers ranked dead-last (32nd) in passing yards allowed last season. There's no arguing they needed to upgrade their secondary. The Buccaneers have had losing seasons in back-to-back years. Now they get the best corner in the NFL over the previous six seasons. The Jets, on the other hand, save salary cap money. Did the Buccaneers make the right decision? Absolutely.
The Buccaneers are the big winners here. They get the best corner in the NFL since Deion Sanders for zero guaranteed money. Even if Revis underperforms or is injured down the road, the Bucs are still safe financially. Did they give up too much to get Revis? Nope. Tampa Bay only gave up one first-round pick and a fourth-round pick, which could become a third.
Revis' contract with the Buccaneers is set at six years, $96 million. Revis is worth $16 million per season because he can eliminate the opponents' best receiver. Ask Reggie Wayne, who only had one catch for only one single yard in a playoff loss to the Jets in 2011. Yes, the Jets will save money and receive a valuable first-round pick in the 2013 NFL draft, but they didn't get enough.
When the Dallas Cowboys traded away Herschel Walker to the Minnesota Vikings, they got back a treasure chest. The Cowboys traded Walker away to the Vikings and received five players and eight draft picks. The Jets didn't get back anywhere near that. The Cowboys got back a treasure chest, and the Jets got a ring finger.
At the end of this day, the Buccaneers are the big winners in this trade.