2. Re-structure LT D’Brickashaw Ferguson‘s contract
In order for the New York Jets to be able to re-sign players like Fitzpatrick and Damon Harrison, who is also hitting the open market in the coming weeks, they have to re-work a few veteran contracts. The first one–D’Brickashaw Ferguson.
Ferguson is set to make $14.1 million in 2016 thanks to the $60 million extension Mike Tannenbaum gave him back in 2010, which is good for another two years.
The 32-year-old left tackle has been a rock for every Jets quarterback that he’s protected, having never missed a game in all 160 career games but committed a decent amount of penalties in 2015. D’Brick isn’t worth $14.1 million–he knows it, and Mike Maccagnan knows it.
If Maccagnan can bring that $14.1 million down to around $7-8 million per year, it would give the Jets the funds they need to secure their younger core players like Damon Harrison.
And if Ferguson refuses to take a pay cut, Maccagnan should not hesitate to release the former first-rounder. Sometimes it’s smarter for a team to take a risk on a rookie with a manageable contract than overpay a veteran who is passed his prime.
