FLORHAM PARK, N.J. -- The
New York Jets added another flashy and versatile option for
Mark Sanchez and their suddenly high-powered offense.
The Jets selected Southern California running back Joe McKnight, Sanchez's former college teammate, after moving up and acquiring Carolina's fourth-round pick Saturday. New York traded its fourth-rounder (No. 124) and sixth-rounder (No. 198) to the Panthers to move up to No. 112.
The Jets later traded running back
Leon Washington to the
Seattle Seahawks, NFL ****'s Mike Lombardi reports. The Jets received the No. 139 pick (RB John Conner), While Seattle got four-year veteran Washington and the No. 236 pick in the seventh round of year's draft.
2010 NFL Draft
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Draft moves to primetime:
» Round 1: Thursday, April 22 (7:30 p.m. ET)
» Rounds 2-3: Friday, April 23 (6 p.m. ET)
» Rounds 4-7: Saturday, April 24 (10 a.m. ET) |
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McKnight is regarded as an excellent multipurpose player who can be a change-of-pace back and punt returner. The Jets also have
Shonn Greene,
LaDainian Tomlinson and
Chauncey Washington, another former Trojan, on their roster.
Add in recently acquired wide receiver
Santonio Holmes,
Braylon Edwards,
Jerricho Cotchery and Brad Smith, and Sanchez should have plenty of targets in his second season.
New York drafted Boise State cornerback
Kyle Wilson in the first round, 29th overall, and Massachusetts offensive lineman Vladimir Ducasse in the second round.
The 5-foot-11, 198-pound McKnight, who made himself eligible for the draft after his junior season, is an elusive player who shows some good power for his size, along with good vision and patience. He was often compared to former USC star
Reggie Bush because of his versatility and could be insurance for a still-rehabilitating Leon Washington.
The Jets have done well in the fourth round lately. Leon Washington (2006), Cotchery (2004),
Dwight Lowery (2008) and
Kerry Rhodes (2005) are all recent fourth-rounders who have been significant contributors for New York.
McKnight doesn't come without concerns. He had a few injuries at USC that limited his production at times, and he sat out the Trojans' Emerald Bowl victory against Boston College while the school investigated whether he violated NCAA rules.
McKnight, USC's first 1,000-yard rusher since 2005, reportedly was seen driving a 2006 Land Rover that state records indicated was registered to businessman Scott Schenter. The Los Angeles Times reported in December that McKnight said he has never driven the SUV and it belonged to his girlfriend's boss.
McKnight had 1,014 yards on 6.2 yards per carry and eight touchdowns during the team's worst season since 2001 as the Trojans failed to make a BCS bowl and win the Pac-10 title for the first time in eight years.
He was considered one of the fastest players available in the draft with game-changing speed and elusiveness.
Subject: leon washington trade to seahawks 
