An update on the negotiations between the New York Jets and Austin Seferian-Jenkins plus a glimpse into what former Jets linebacker David Harris is up to these days in New England.
Apparently, the New York Jets did not provide Austin Seferian-Jenkins a deal he couldn’t refuse. He said thanks but no thanks per a Calvin Watkins report via Newsday:
“One of the Jets’ free agents, tight end Austin Seferian-Jenkins, has had contract talks with the team, a source said. The Jets offered him a two-year, $8-million deal and were rejected, but they will continue talks with his representatives.”
It wasn’t a final offer by any means, but it does pull back the curtain of negotiations and portrays what the Jets value ASJ at.
Is $4 million per season a good offer from the Jets?
I decided to compare that average to the current market for tight ends and their contracts via Spotrac:
- Marcedes Lewis, TE, Jacksonville Jaguars ($4 million cap hit)
- Levine Toilolo, TE, Atlanta Falcons ($4 million cap hit)
These are the only two players at the tight end position with that same cap hit. Let’s see how their stats compare:
- Lewis
- 2017: 24 receptions, 318 yards and five touchdown receptions
- Toilolo
- 2017: 12 receptions, 122 yards and one touchdown reception
- Seferian-Jenkins
- 2017: 50 receptions, 357 yards and three touchdowns
It appears to be a very fair offer from Gang Green. While the reception totals bring us a stark difference, outside of that, everything is basically a wash.
As Watkins indicated in his report, both sides will come back to the negotiating table and that’s what this offseason is all about. But if I’m the Jets I’m not sure how much higher I’d go. Stats aren’t the end all be all obviously and the Jets haven’t had a tight end with this potential in years, so it’d be risky to try and move on from ASJ.
In other news, ESPN’s Rich Cimini is on assignment in New England with the Jets eliminated from postseason contention. During his trip to Foxborough, he ran into former Jets star David Harris. Here’s what he had to say about Todd Bowles and his extension with the green and white:
“Yeah, he’s a good coach,” Harris told ESPN’s Rich Cimini on Thursday in the New England Patriots locker room. “He’s the perfect guy, the perfect guy.”
Why?
“Because he knows football,” Harris said. “He understands how football works on both sides, coaching and playing. He gets it.”
Other Jets News, Stories:
- Report: Austin Seferian-Jenkins turned down Jets offer (John B of Gang Green Nation).
- David Harris calls Todd Bowles “perfect guy” for the Jets (Rich Cimini of ESPN New York).
- Could MSU teammates reunite on Jets with Kirk Cousins and Le’Veon Bell? (Manish Mehta of the New York Daily News).
