Your New York Sports Blog: Vilma to the Saints

Friday, February 29, 2008

UPDATE 2/29: The Jets received a fourth-round pick in the upcoming 2008 draft. Now, if Vilma reaches certain playing time levels AND he winds up signing an extension with the Saints then the Jets will get either a second or a third rounder in 2009 but they would have to sort of pay back the original value of the deal by giving the Saints a fourth-round pick.

UPDATE 2/29: The deal is now official. And is for a 3rd or 4th round pick.

UPDATE: According to a league source, the Jets will receive a conditional draft pick from the Saints likely for the 2009 draft.
Saint's Beat:

The Saints are close to finalizing a deal that will bring middle linebacker Jonathan Vilma to the team in a trade with the New York Jets, league sources said. The deal could be announced as early as later Thursday night or sometime on Friday. Vilma, 6 foot 1, 230 pounds, is a four-year NFL veteran. He played in nine games for New York, his season shortened by knee surgery. He had 43 total tackles in the nine games he played in 2007 for the Jets.

It appears that the deal will most likely be for a 3rd round pick. It is also being said that it might be worth a 2nd round pick in the draft. Vilma is a stud when healthy and if I was the Jets I would try to hit the Saints up for Robert Meachem. He would fit what they need a lot more than a 2nd or 3rd round pick. The only thing to hope is that Vilma goes to New Orleans returns to pro ball form and that David Harris bombs this season or gets injured seriously hurting is development and career.