Mike Maccagnan and the New York Jets executed their smarts when they released offensive tackle Ryan Clady.
As the New York Jets are preparing for free agency, they made a necessary move on February 15 when they released offensive tackle Ryan Clady.
The move has saved the New York Jets 10 million dollars in cap space. Obviously, more moves are expected to be made by general manager Mike Maccagnan.
The Jets are going to need to clear as much cap space as they can — especially, for trying to improve a 5-11 team.
It was last April when the New York Jets made the trade with the Denver Broncos for Clady. The Jets traded away their fifth round pick for him and also received a seventh round pick.
The trade was made due to the surprising news that their star offensive tackle D’Brickashaw Ferguson was going to retire. It was a risky move that the New York Jets felt like they had to make in order to replace Ferguson.
Clady was once a Pro Bowl caliber player. In fact, he is a four-time Pro Bowler. He’s also a two-time All-Pro First Team selection. But injuries have really derailed his career. He played in only 2 games during the 2013 season due to a Lisfranc injury. He missed all of 2015 with a torn ACL.
The Jets were hoping that his injury issues were behind him. This turned out to be wishful thinking. Clady suffered a torn rotator cuff during the week three loss to the Kansas City Chiefs. To his credit, he did attempt to play through the injury but after nine games the Jets had to shut him down.
Coach Todd Bowles said, back in November, “It got so bad to where it wasn’t getting better with treatment and he’s pretty much playing out there with one arm.”
The move is necessary for the New York Jets to release Clady. He has shown over his career that he can be a very productive offensive tackle.
But because of his injury woes, 10 million dollars is way too much to pay for a guy that has missed 23 out of the last 32 games.
Perhaps the Jets can get him back in free agency at a cheaper price. But if not, drafting an offensive lineman might be the route to go. The New York Jets have to begin getting younger on their offensive line.
