Sheldon Richardson Wants To Stay With Jets

Jets defensive lineman Sheldon Richardson is entering a contract year, meaning he could be a season away from potentially leaving a rebuilding outfit for a contender. But Richardson, who has been a Jet since they used a first-round pick on him in 2013, wants to stay where he is.

“I got drafted here … me and New York got a little edge to us both,” Richardson told Manish Mehta of the New York Daily News. “I hate losing. They hate losing. I hate it. I hate it with a passion. But I want to turn it around here. That’s it for me, man. I started here. I want to finish here. That’s how I think about it. It ain’t in my power as far as that (happening) though.”

The problem for Richardson is that, while he’d like to continue with the Jets, the feeling might not be mutual. The Jets have tried to trade the twice-suspended Richardson since at least last season, when both the Broncos and Cowboys expressed interest in him. More recently, Gang Green offered the 26-year-old to the Buccaneers, Colts and Seahawks, but none bit on New York’s asking price. Now, the Jets – who look bound for the No. 1 pick in the 2018 draft and have two other high-profile D-linemen in Leonard Williams and Muhammad Wilkerson – remain “amenable” to moving Richardson, according to Mehta.

In the event Richardson stays put and doesn’t ink an extension, he’ll play 2017 for $8.069MM – his fifth-year option salary. Despite his past off-field troubles, including suspensions for substance abuse and personal conduct policy violations, Richardson would perhaps put himself in line for a substantial long-term payday by staying out of trouble and bouncing back from a somewhat disappointing 2016. Across 15 games and 14 starts, Richardson posted a career-low sack total (1.5, down from five in 2015 and eight in 2014), though he still ranked 31st among Pro Football Focus’ 109 qualified edge defenders.

Richardson isn’t going to stay in New York for less than he believes he’s worth, as he told Mehta: “Hometown discount? I’m from St. Louis. … There’s no team in St. Louis. Kansas City is close. But not them either.”