The New York Jets are approaching an inevitable purge on their roster. So what long-time vets are going to see their ties severed?
The team that is currently playing on the field and the New York Jets that’ll come running out of the gates next September are going to look very different. Particularly, when it comes to the longest tenured Jets on the team.Entering this season, the Jets had the sixth oldest roster in the NFL according to Voice Sporting Analytics.
So, when weighing risk vs. reward, one of the biggest proponents will inevitably be money. Also, getting rid of some of the older players on the roster for a youth movement will and should happen.
While there will be a lot of roster movement, expect the core of the Jets front office and coaching staff to survive this top-10 pick season. Outside of a potential offensive coordinator change, the staff should remain essentially the same.
Here are the veterans who’ll more than likely be gone following the season:
The Offensive Line Overhaul
The first slew of cuts is going to occur on the Jets offensive line. The Jets could realistically lose 80 percent of their offensive line from the start of this season.
Nick Mangold, C
The longest current tenured Jet is their long-time Center, Nick Mangold. He was placed on IR over a week ago and that could spell the end for Big Nikky.
Outside of this season, he’s been captain durability but his high cap number and declining play suggest an exit is in his future.
He turns 33 in January and the Jets could save $9.075M by releasing him. It’s a harsh business, but Mangold’s body has been breaking down over the years after all the grueling punishment he’s taken in the trenches.
Breno Giacomini, RT
What seemed like a steal just a couple years ago has looked like a bitter disappointment. Giacomini has been often penalized and often injured. It’s time for the Jets to move onto the future.
This is something they’ve embraced since putting Breno on IR this week. Brandon Shell, who they traded up in the draft for, is the tackle of the future. The Jets would create $4.5M in salary cap space by cutting Giacomini (with $625,000 in dead money attached).
Ryan Clady, LT
Originally, I loved the trade to acquire the former Pro-Bowler. It was a low-risk (mid-round pick) high-reward (filling the void at left tackle).
Ultimately, injuries, again, derailed his short stay with the Jets. He signed a one-and-done deal with the Jets. If Clady proved to be a viable starter they had him at a bargain for a little over $10m, but that didn’t happen. So, expect Clady to be released and to add some cap space for the Jets.
Brian Winters, G
Brian won’t be released because he’s in a contract year. Speaking of that contract year, he’s having a Pro-Bowl level season and is a must keep for the Jets heading into the 2016-17 offseason.
He should command top dollar on the open market if he makes it that far. The Jets can’t afford to lose him. Pair him with James Carpenter, who has been fantastic, and the Jets could have a great jumping point for their offensive line rebuild.
Marcus Gilchrist, S
Another guy who came in during the free agency wave two years ago was Marcus Gilchrist. His future is very much up in the air for a multitude of reasons. Namely, his torn patellar tendon which could take up to 12 months to recover from. Some players never fully recover.
Plus, as we talked about earlier, money, sometimes more than age, (28 years old) also plays a factor. The Jets would create $4.625 million by cutting Gilchrist (with $2.75 million in dead money attached).
This week, the Jets will rely upon the services of Rontez Miles who is trying to show that he can be the safety for the Jets next season. A lot of players are being given auditions with three weeks to go including Brandon Shell, Bryce Petty, and the aforementioned Miles.
Darrelle Revis, CB
A little under two years ago I was jumping for joy when I found out that Revis was making his return to the Jets. Even the contract (5-year $70m dollar deal with $39m guaranteed) didn’t scare me.
But now, fast-forward to 2016, and it can’t be denied: Revis has regressed. Is it age? Is it injuries? As much as I’d like to hope it’s those things, the Jets can’t afford to bring him back on his current cap number.
If the Jets straight up released Revis, they would save north of $9M with only $6M in dead cap space. Reports are surfacing that Revis and his camp are willing to renegotiate the deal, so we’ll have to see how that plays out.
Regardless of the price tag, the Jets may want to move on from the best player in franchise history. Revis Island went from a remote location to a popular tourist spot this season. The Jets currently have the second lowest amount of cap space available prior to all the funny money that they can get off the books. Revis’ contract is one of those funny money deals that the Jets can get out from under it.
This overall purge could include: Giacomini, Mangold, Clady, Gilchrist, and Revis, they would create at least $37.5 million in cap space. The Jets could use all the money they can get, especially for this critical offseason.