Raiders trade TE Jolley to Jets for first round pick

Published 12:00 am Friday, April 29, 2005

The Associated Press

ALAMEDA, Calif. - The Raiders agreed to a trade with the New York Jets on Wednesday that will send tight end Doug Jolley to the Jets and give Oakland a first-round pick in this weekend's NFL draft after all.

Jolley, a fourth-year tight end out of Brigham Young University, goes to New York along with a second-round pick in exchange for the Jets' 26th overall pick, one Raiders source and one NFL source said, both speaking on condition of anonymity. The swap would be contingent on Jolley passing a physical.

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''There are a couple things that need to happen,'' the Raiders source said, including finalizing which other draft picks Oakland would receive.

The Raiders traded their first-round draft selection - seventh overall - to Minnesota for Randy Moss in March and weren't scheduled to make their first pick until sixth in the second round, 38th overall.

Jolley, a second round draft pick out of BYU in 2002, had 27 catches for 313 yards and two touchdowns last season. In 47 career games, Jolley has 90 catches for 972 yards and five scores.

The Jets needed help at tight end after losing starter Anthony Becht as a free agent earlier this offseason. Chris Baker was the only player on the roster with any significant game experience at the position.

The swap of Jolley came a day after Oakland dealt disgruntled cornerback Phillip Buchanon to the Houston Texans for two draft picks.

The Raiders got Houston's 47th overall pick in the second round in the Buchanon trade Tuesday, then gave that pick to the Jets in Wednesday's deal. Oakland already had the 69th pick in the third round and now also receives one of the Texans' two picks that round.

The Raiders finished 5-11 last season, getting just one more victory in coach Norv Turner's first year than the Raiders managed the previous season under fired coach Bill Callahan. The team is just 9-23 over the past two seasons for the worst two-year record since Al Davis arrived in 1963 to coach and eventually own the Raiders.

The Jets hope getting Jolley will provide a big boost to their offense.

New York went after restricted free agent Jeb Putzier last month, but the Denver Broncos matched the Jets' offer, agreeing to pay $12.5 million to keep the tight end for the next five seasons.