The Darrelle Revis Trade Is The Beginning Of The End For Rex Ryan

AP

After missing the playoffs for the second consecutive season, Rex Ryan was already on the hot seat as head coach of the New York Jets.

But after trading Darrelle Revis, the Jets will be even worse in 2013 and Ryan's fate may now be sealed.

The Jets got the 13th overall pick in this week's draft for Revis. And while that player could be great for years to come, in 2013 he will not be as valuable as a healthy Revis, which all indications say he will be.

While many point to the struggles of the offense and quarterback Mark Sanchez, it is actually the defense that has led to the downfall of the team. And it is the defense which is supposed to be Ryan's specialty.

In Ryan's first season (2009), the Jets allowed just 14.8 points per game, the lowest in the NFL, and reached the AFC title game. However, in each of the last two seasons, the Jets ranked 20th in points allowed, giving up 22.7 points per game in 2011 and 23.4 points per game this past season.

In addition, by making this trade, Revis will actually count more against the Jets' salary cap in 2013 ($12 million) than if they had kept him ($9 million) further handcuffing the team's roster this season.

Clearly this trade was made with an eye towards 2014 when the Jets will no longer have Revis counting against the cap and the team will have an extra mid-round pick from the Bucs and a slew of compensation picks for a draft that is expected to be very deep.

But if the Jets struggle through another six-win season in 2013, and the defense can't keep the opposition out of the endzone, it is unlikely that Ryan will be around to reap the benefits that will come next year. And that scenario is more likely to happen without Revis around to anchor the defense.