FLORHAM PARK, N.J. — A take a look at what’s occurring across the New York Jets:
1. No low cost double-check: Another season of Aaron Rodgers would imply far-reaching salary-cap implications for the incoming regime — a significant factor within the determination on whether or not to retain the longer term Hall of Fame quarterback.
Rodgers is signed for 2025 (he has 4 void years, by way of 2029), however there isn’t any assured cash remaining in his deal. That will assist mitigate the cap ramifications when he is gone, however the injury nonetheless will likely be important.
Let’s study the monetary execs and cons of one other yr.
If Rodgers would not play for the Jets in 2025 — if he is minimize or retires — the Jets have a $49 million “lifeless” cost, which is an accumulation of pro-rated bonuses from previous years. That’s a considerable cap hit, greater than double his cap cost if he is on the roster ($23.5 million).
The $49 million will be unfold over two years by designating him a post-June 1 minimize — $14 million in 2025 and $35 million in 2026. For long-term planning functions, it would make sense to soak up the complete hit subsequent yr, creating cap flexibility for the longer term.
Now as an example Rodgers returns in 2025. While the cap cost ($23.5 million) can be manageable, they’d must pay him a $35 million choice bonus by the primary regular-season recreation along with a $2.5 million base wage.
Now, the draw back. If he does come again for one yr, the lifeless cost balloons to $63 million in 2026. The purpose for the rise is the choice bonus, which might be pro-rated for cap functions over the size of the contract (the void years) after which speed up into 2026 upon his departure.
Once once more, they might use the June 1 designation, however you then’re speaking about spreading cash into 2027 — $21 million in 2026 and $42 million in 2027. Does a brand new regime actually wish to be paying off the Rodgers invoice till 2027?
They might renegotiate the $35 million choice bonus in the event that they wish to preserve him, however that will solely push extra money into the again finish of the deal — hardly best. What a few straight pay minimize? Rodgers took a voluntary $34 million pay minimize final yr, so it appears unlikely that he’d wish to give again extra money.
Rodgers’ future will likely be a speaking level for the following few months. He mentioned he is undecided on whether or not he’ll play subsequent yr. If he does, the Jets are his No. 1 choice.
“I’m open to the whole lot and hooked up to nothing,” Rodgers mentioned.
Maybe so, however that large cap hit is hooked up to him.
2. Let the searches start: Owner Woody Johnson’s determination to hire an outside firm led by somebody he fired 12 years in the past — former Jets basic supervisor Mike Tannenbaum — was met with predictable skepticism. It’s a bizarre optic, to make certain, however there may be advantage to the way in which the Jets are approaching their basic supervisor and head teaching searches — in idea, anyway.
Clearly, Johnson, regardless of 25 years of possession, would not really feel comfy in conducting his personal searches. Tannenbaum and his associate on this challenge, former Minnesota Vikings GM Rick Spielman, are two front-office veterans who work collectively on The thirty third Team, a media and know-how firm that can present analysis and assist establish candidates.
Spielman, talking on an NFL on CBS podcast, provided some perception into the method. He mentioned he already has interviewed “a variety of the blokes” that can find yourself being on their listing of suggestions to the Jets. He met them by way of the NFL’s Coach Accelerator Program (designed to spice up inclusion) and thru his previous work as a guide. In addition to aiding the Washington Commanders final yr of their searches, he has “interviewed” potential candidates who coveted his suggestions.
“I’m only a scout within the nook,” Spielman mentioned of his Jets’ task. “I’ll give my opinion. I’ll assist with the interviews. I’ll discuss to a variety of sources on the market, gather a variety of data and provides the knowledge” to the Jets.
Johnson used the same strategy in 2015, hiring former GMs Charley Casserly and Ron Wolf as consultants. Casserly wielded appreciable affect within the course of, and so they wound up hiring two folks with ties to him — coach Todd Bowles and GM Mike Maccagnan.
The finish end result? Four seasons, no playoff appearances.
The line between data gatherer and influencer can get blurry, particularly since Johnson has been identified to let exterior voices have an effect on his considering. In this case, the Jets are saying Tannenbaum/Spielman could have a “assist function,” not guide positions.
In the tip, Johnson will make the ultimate selections, in response to the Jets. Of course, he will likely be selecting from candidates really useful by Tannenbaum/Spielman.
3. Captain Fantastic: Rodgers could have no juice within the choice course of, and it would not sound like he is searching for a seat on the desk. “I’m at all times obtainable if my opinion is needed, however I’m going to give attention to enjoying proper now,” he mentioned. “If I get drawn in these conversations, incredible. If I do not, it is incredible, too.”
4. Red-shirt yr: Quarterback Jordan Travis stays the thriller man of the 2024 draft class. That horrific ankle injury from college stays a difficulty, as he has suffered “some setbacks” and is “nonetheless struggling by way of a couple of issues,” interim coach Jeff Ulbrich mentioned.
The former Florida State star, drafted within the fifth spherical, turned ineligible to apply and play this season when he was positioned on the reserve/non-football damage listing in August. The hope was that he’d have the ability to do some work on the aspect, however that has been curtailed. It has become a yr of classroom studying.
When they drafted him, the Jets thought he’d be prepared this season.
5. Reddick tries to recoup: Edge rusher Haason Reddick price himself hundreds of thousands together with his lengthy holdout. Now he is costing himself extra money together with his sluggish begin. His revised one-year contract features a sack incentive, however he wants eight sacks to hit a $500,000 bonus. Reddick has solely 0.5 sacks in 4 video games, so it might be powerful to get 7.5 over the ultimate six video games.
He’s on tempo to hit a 40% playing-time incentive — a $791,628 bonus. That, coupled together with his base wage, will convey his 2024 compensation to $9.5 million. He was scheduled to make $14.5 million earlier than the holdout. Factoring in fines and misplaced wages, Reddick in all probability will wind up shedding not less than $7 million due to the holdout.
Ulbrich praised Reddick, saying “his effort is off the chain.” His presence has allowed the Jets to blitz much less regularly, however the pass-rush manufacturing hasn’t improved with him.
In seven video games with out Reddick, their sack price and stress share had been at 9.3% and 39.2%, respectively. In 4 video games with him, it is 9.4% and 36.0%, per Next Gen Stats.
6. Burn the script: It’s in all probability seemingly that neither the Jets nor the Seattle Seahawks will rating a landing Sunday on their opening drive when the 2 face off. After all, they’re amongst seven groups that have not achieved it.
This is a serious problem for the Jets, who common an NFL-worst 15.5 yards on their first drive, in response to ESPN Research. Over the final 5 seasons, the one groups with worse marks are the 2023 Jets (14.7) and 2021 Titans (15.4).
7. Leo’s again: One of the primary massive strikes by former GM Joe Douglas was dealing defensive sort out Leonard Williams and his expiring contract to the New York Giants on the 2019 buying and selling deadline. The transfer made sense as a result of the Jets had been heading right into a full-blown rebuild. They acquired two draft picks, a 2020 third-rounder (security Ashtyn Davis) and a 2021 fifth rounder (nickel again Michael Carter II).
Meanwhile, Williams, 30, loved a pleasant run with the Giants and is now flourishing with the Seahawks. He has achieved fairly properly for himself — $130 million in profession earnings, per Spotrac.
8. Geno’s again: This will not be former 2013 second-pick Geno Smith‘s first begin towards the Jets — he beat them in 2022 in Seattle — however it is going to be his first towards them in MetLife Stadium, his former house. It’s already been 9 years since that notorious locker-room fracas, when Smith bought punched within the face by former teammate IK Enemkpali. Time flies.
9. No enjoyable day: Sunday hasn’t been type to the Jets — a 1-6 file. Silver lining, 4 of the losses had been by six factors or much less.
10. The Last Word: “I’ve by no means seen folks getting fired, so I’m new to this, particularly when it is some people who have put hundreds of thousands of {dollars} in my pocket for me to alter my life and my household’s lives.” — Cornerback Sauce Gardner on the firings of Douglas and coach Robert Saleh.
