Position by Position: Cuts, re-signings and needs

[#27TheDominator]

It was widely reported last year that we were gunning for a "big back" last year in the draft... it didn't happen and we settled for taking on Stacy and keeping Ridley around.

What to take away from that? They have a board, and when the right guy wasn't there, they past on the notion and went in another direction. I can respect that. Stick with what you know.

I didn't hear any draft chatter about backs last year.  That is good to know.  I am still kind of concerned that Ridley and Stacy performed so poorly.  They were really bad.  I'm also surprised that they don't appear to like/want a scat back/slot guy.  Some of those smaller D'Anthony Thomas/Dri Archer types seem like they might be able to do some damage, but I guess they don't block well enough to satisfy them. New personal record for slashes in one post.

[Jetsfan80]

Powell will never rush for 1,000 yards.

1.  Why not?  Powell averaged 4.5 yards per carry this year.  Ivory?  4.3.  The only real difference between the two was the the fact that Ivory got a ton of touches early in the season.  Perhaps a big reason why he wore down later on, and will continue that trend the remainder of his career.

2.  1,000 yards isn't the measure of a good RB anyways, especially not in today's NFL where just about every team uses a committee approach. 

You're looking to reward Ivory based on what he HAS done rather than what he WILL do.  If he can't stay on the field, he provides us with very little value going forward.  Certainly not enough to justify a sizable contract when we're dealing with limited cap space.

[JustInFudge]

"Possibly.  I think he sticks around.  Finding a back up, as cheap with as much starting experience isnt easy."

This goes along with my comment about cheap players, if you don't like the player his cost means nothing at all.  If the jets like petty even a thimble more than geno then geno is a goner.

 

Possibly but I'm not sure why people think they dont like him.  He was the unquestioned starter before his jaw was broken and they clearly didnt view him as a "distraction" or they would have cut him and rolled with Johnson or Flynn or whoever else they had in the building at some point.    They didnt.  He stuck around, was a good teammate and the Jets rolled to 10 wins with the best offensive output in 20 years.

I have no clue what they do with him but it seems unlikely they cut him, at least that's my opinion. Who knows though.  He could be a goner.  I dont think anyone will cry to see him go but I just dont really understand the why behind it.  

 

 

 

[JustInFudge]

1.  Why not?

2.  That isn't the measure of a good RB, especially not in today's NFL where just about every team uses a committee approach. 

You're looking to reward Ivory based on what he HAS done rather than what he WILL do.  If he can't stay on the field, he provides us with very little value going forward.  Certainly not enough to justify a sizable contract when we're dealing with limited cap space.

RB's who ran for a thousand yards this season:

Peterson, Martin, Gurley, McFadden, Ivory, Murray, Freeman. 

First off, thats only 7 and and I would assume is an all time low for the NFL.  If McFadden, Murray and Freeman can make the list, so can Powell in the right situation.

 

[Paradis]

Possibly but I'm not sure why people think they dont like him.  He was the unquestioned starter before his jaw was broken and they clearly didnt view him as a "distraction" or they would have cut him and rolled with Johnson or Flynn or whoever else they had in the building at some point.    They didnt.  He stuck around, was a good teammate and the Jets rolled to 10 wins with the best offensive output in 20 years.

I have no clue what they do with him but it seems unlikely they cut him, at least that's my opinion. Who knows though.  He could be a goner.  I dont think anyone will cry to see him go but I just dont really understand the why behind it.  

 

 

 

IK-gate aside (if that's possible) Geno represents a fantastic back up QB opportunity in the short term. I know it's popular on this board to speak of him like a muppet, but that's until Josh Freeman or Matt Cassle starts a game for you. Then you'll be bending over for a guy like Geno.

He's young, cheap and athletically gifted. Check around the league, that's better than 90% of the teams. If we cut him, it's because he really is a dick... OR Petty is a fellatio-savant behind closed office doors.  

[Embrace the Suck]

There is a big difference between tendering a restricted rights FA, like they did last year and the transition tag.   A restricted FA has 3 years or less in the league.  The transition tag is like the franchise tag's little brother. it gives right to match any contract for slightly less money than the franchise tag (which would net picks if the player signed elsewhere).  This year's transition tag for a DT is $9M. 

Thanks for the info. If teams need him and are going to pay him big money they can pony up a pick or two. Even if mid to late round.

[Jetster]

I stopped reading at Keep:  Zac Stacy,

Ha, ha, I thought the same thing lol

[Jet Nut]

It really depends on how they view Petty.  If he's elevated to the backup role, they can easily fill the # 3 slot with a late rounder or UDFA.  It doesn't need to be a top prospect who comes in for the Jets to move on from Geno. 

Agree, if they really believe in what theyve seen from Petty in a year of practices we'll know soon enough.  If Genos gone and they bring in a #3 thats good for Petty.  If they go for a Glennon type they either dont like him or think hes got a lot of time before he can play even on a one game basis.

Thinking about it, you might be right.  Think Fitz will or should get 9 mil per or so.  But for 2

[varjet]

this is a great opportunity for Geno.  The likelihood of Fitz playing 16 games next year is very low.  He has the opportunity to play under a system that he has invested in for over a year and put up good numbers.  That could help him sign a lucrative contract with another team, which can result in the Jets getting a good compensatory pick. 

As a backup, Geno would be more than satisfactory for a team that is continuing to build.

In 2017, Fitz and Petty compete.  

Same thing with Milliner.  Its now or never for him.  He should be motivated to play well and hurt in 2016.  The Jets already own him.  Let's see if he can show himself off for another contract.  If he gets hurt again, put him on IR.

[Rangers9]

No matter what Bowles says it's pretty obvious Kerley will be gone. But to me a priority (probably via the draft) is a return specialist even if that's their only role with the team. It's hard to win when you consistently have poor field position which was the case most of the season.

[SoFlaJets]

Nice work 8-0...there are a lot of replies, on the new JN, after this last exodus one thing I've started doing is now I 1st look at the name of the poster and decide whether it needs to be read or not...it seems to me that there are some guys who are feverishly trying to get their post count high as fast as they can to try and show that they "are really smart" I guess but I prefer quality over quantity and I put more credence in names that I know and respect more-so than in guys who are posting at that pace-good work 8-0, a name that I look for, and always read. 

[JohnnyLV]

Rich Gannon , Jim Plunkett, Vinny Testaverde, Drew Brees, All guys where were journeymen yet went to the right situation and excelled, difference is they were beloved by their fans because their team finally got a QB... Jets fans who have not had a QB for 40 + years bash the sh*t out of a guy who threw 31 TD's ran for 2 more and if not for a ton of critical drops probably leads his team to a 12-4 record that's not even including the great 4th quarter perfomance's he had the last half of the season.

Fitz WAS a journeyman no doubt but in my mind he's no longer that journeyman he's the QB of the NY Jets and will continue to be and I'm damn happy he is because if he was not here Geno would have sh*t the bed because contrary to what some here say that's all he's ever done was sh*t the bed even the game he came in to take over for Fitz he showed the same garbage tendencies.

Journeyman don't join a team and throw 31 TD's and completely take over the leadership we've been lacking for so long. I'm fully prepared to see Fitz for the next 2-4 years if he continues to put up numbers like this year you better get used to that as well because no matter who we draft if Fitz continues to throw 30 + TD's and play clutch like he did no one is taking his spot..

Could not possibly disagree more. 2-4 more years of Fitz? If Bowles does that the only thing we win in the next 4 years is a new GM and HC again.

[JohnnyLV]

After training camp i don't think he was a distraction at all and actually he did the right things and kept quiet.  I also think the jets brain trust doesn't like him and will jettison him this off season despite him still being an affordable backup.

You are sure rooting for it hard enough

[JohnnyLV]

After training camp i don't think he was a distraction at all and actually he did the right things and kept quiet.  I also think the jets brain trust doesn't like him and will jettison him this off season despite him still being an affordable backup.

You are sure rooting for it hard enough

[batman10023]

Nice work 8-0...there are a lot of replies, on the new JN, after this last exodus one thing I've started doing is now I 1st look at the name of the poster and decide whether it needs to be read or not...it seems to me that there are some guys who are feverishly trying to get their post count high as fast as they can to try and show that they "are really smart" I guess but I prefer quality over quantity and I put more credence in names that I know and respect more-so than in guys who are posting at that pace-good work 8-0, a name that I look for, and always read. 

says the guy with 35k posts

[jgb]

I would like to go back to the well and get another Rams RB: Tre Mason. He can likely he had for a late rounder and is cheap and would play angry after being passed over for Gurley despite showing some wiggle in rookie year

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[Powpow]

I would like to go back to the well and get another Rams RB: Tre Mason. He can likely he had for a late rounder and is cheap and would play angry after being passed over for Gurley despite showing some wiggle in rookie year

 

 

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Outstanding.

[SoFlaJets]

says the guy with 35k posts

in 12 years!

[Jetsfan80]

I would like to go back to the well and get another Rams RB: Tre Mason. He can likely he had for a late rounder and is cheap and would play angry after being passed over for Gurley despite showing some wiggle in rookie year

We got Zac Stacy after he was pissed about being passed over for Mason and Gurley.  Wouldn't it be great if we got Mason then cut Stacy?

[#27TheDominator]

We got Zac Stacy after he was pissed about being passed over for Mason and Gurley.  Wouldn't it be great if we got Mason then cut Stacy?

After getting Stacy and cutting Richardson?  At this rate we will have Gurley by 2018.

FWIW, Jonathan Grimes has had a nice little run to close out the season.  He was kicking around here a couple of years ago and Houston obviously likes him - both with and without Maccagnan.  He will be an RFA they might consider depending on how he is tendered.

[Jetsfan80]

FWIW, Jonathan Grimes has had a nice little run to close out the season.  He was kicking around here a couple of years ago and Houston obviously likes him - both with and without Maccagnan.  He will be an RFA they might consider depending on how he is tendered.

I thought about him too.  He went to a small school (William & Mary) and has quite a few fans from his college days that I talk to on occasion.  They wonder why the hell he didn't get more playing time in Houston after Foster went down, as he had more upside than the other stable of backs they had.

[jgb]

We got Zac Stacy after he was pissed about being passed over for Mason and Gurley.  Wouldn't it be great if we got Mason then cut Stacy?

Indeed. We had daryl Richardson also who was pissed about being passed over by Stacey and mason haha

Stacey is a JAG mason looks like a mini leveon bell

Edit: mason also only 22 he came out very young and his father is a member of de la soul. So we got halftime show sorted when jets make super bowl next season

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[#27TheDominator]

I thought about him too.  He went to a small school (William & Mary) and has quite a few fans from his college days that I talk to on occasion.  They wonder why the hell he didn't get more playing time in Houston after Foster went down, as he had more upside than the other stable of backs they had.

Yeah.  A buddy of mine went to Wiliam & Mary, but he knows nothing about football.  I usually end up telling him who is in the league so he can stay informed.  I doubt they are going to give him a 2nd round tender and since Grimes was undrafted there would be no compensation involved.

[Jetsfan80]

Yeah.  A buddy of mine went to Wiliam & Mary, but he knows nothing about football.  I usually end up telling him who is in the league so he can stay informed.  I doubt they are going to give him a 2nd round tender and since Grimes was undrafted there would be no compensation involved.

And of course as you alluded to, Macc was in Houston's front office when Grimes arrived there as a UDFA.  Makes perfect sense we'd give him a look.  Both Macc and Grimes are New Jersey guys too, less than an hour's drive away from each other's hometowns. 

[#27TheDominator]

And of course as you alluded to, Macc was in Houston's front office when Grimes arrived there as a UDFA.  Makes perfect sense we'd give him a look.  Both Macc and Grimes are New Jersey guys too, less than an hour's drive away from each other's hometowns. 

Not just when he arrived as an UDFA.  They signed Grimes 3 times while Maccagnan was with the Texans!  Ben Tate kept getting hurt. 

As for William & Mary, Tre McBride was a bit of a disappointment.  These guys do seem to like to sign local and Jersey guys at the bottom of the roster.  I think it makes it easier to recall them. They are less likely to become train conductors and refuse to rejoin the team like Keith Fitzhugh.

[Jetsfan80]

As for William & Mary, Tre McBride was a bit of a disappointment.  These guys do seem to like to sign local and Jersey guys at the bottom of the roster.  I think it makes it easier to recall them. They are less likely to become train conductors and refuse to rejoin the team like Keith Fitzhugh.

I think the academic strength of NJ High School's are a factor too.  There's a reason so many kids from that state end up going to school at Duke or W&M, and I don't just mean athletes. 

[Powpow]

What moves has Mac made this year? Why hasn't he signed anyone? Why no trades? Why no cuts? What is going on here.

[section314]

What moves has Mac made this year? Why hasn't he signed anyone? Why no trades? Why no cuts? What is going on here.

 Way to try to cheer us up! Very good.

[Jetsfan80]

What moves has Mac made this year? Why hasn't he signed anyone? Why no trades? Why no cuts? What is going on here.

WHY HAVENT WE SIGNED ANY BEASTS

[Powpow]

WHY HAVENT WE SIGNED ANY BEASTS

Finally Mac - about time!

[mphtrilogy]

Nice analysis, but no way powell gets $3mill / year on open market...  Hes a max $1.5 mill/year guy imho

[SR24]

I disagree a good NT is very hard to come by I would resign harrison then the decision comes down to Mo. Franchise him then look to trade him before the draft load up on picks bring in OT,LB,RB help and use the money we'd give Mo for Von Miller or Bruce Irving.

[#27TheDominator]

Nice analysis, but no way powell gets $3mill / year on open market...  Hes a max $1.5 mill/year guy imho

He got $2M for 2015

[Larz]

thanks for the list !  nice effort !

 

 

 

[Tony The Wiz]

The Jets currently have $14.2M in cap space projected for 2016, leaving a lot of tough decisions for Mike Maccagnan.  Below is an attempt to sift through these decisions position-by-position and see what needs to happen to improve the roster. 

Note that not all of the positions I have determined to need to be "addressed via draft" will actually happen, especially given our predominant strategy of taking the best available player.  However, if BPA aligns fairly closely with these positions of need I expect us to pull the trigger.  The remaining needs would all need to be addressed with trades or in free agency.

 

QB

Keep:  Bryce Petty

Re-Sign:  Ryan Fitzpatrick (3-year deal in neighborhood of $9-$12M per, $14-$18M guaranteed)

Cut:  Geno Smith ($0.5M dead money, $1.1M cap space saved)

Need?  YES.  Address via draft.

Rationale:  While it is true that Geno Smith's cap number is small, he presents a distraction and a poor fit as a backup.  His primary role in 2015 ultimately ended up being a "buffer" to keep Bryce Petty from needing to see the field.  That buffer will likely no longer be needed as Petty enters his 2nd NFL season.  The Jets did not draft Geno Smith and have no reason to use up a roster spot on him. 

Adding another QB to the fold via the draft that fits what the regime would like to accomplish makes the most sense, with Fitzpatrick retained as the 2016 Week 1 starter.  (NOTE:  I used the deal Nick Foles got with St. Louis as the "upper limit" of what we should be willing to give Fitz.) 

Trading for a QB, while possible, only makes sense if it does not require dealing a 1st or 2nd rounder.  Drew Brees is a pipe dream. 

 

RB

Keep:  Zac Stacy, Tommy Bohannon

Re-Sign:  Bilal Powell (3-year deal, $3-5M per, $6-7M guaranteed); Stevan Ridley (1 year, $760,000)

Allow to hit free agency:  Chris Ivory

Need?  YES.  Address via draft.

Rationale:  RB is mostly a plug 'n' play position in the NFL, meaning costs should be kept low unless you have a truly special talent.  Chris Ivory's inability to stay healthy down the stretch means the Jets should allow someone else to overpay him, and perhaps recoup a conditional draft pick in 2017 in the process.  Ridley, while only 26, was nothing special, and can walk as a UFA unless he's willing to accept the veteran minimum deal (1 year, $760,000 based on his years accrued).  At 24 and under contract thru 2016, Stacy can stick around. 

This leaves Powell to be the only player commanding any kind of "big money".  The deal I would like to see him receive is similar to the one Frank Gore received in Indianapolis.  Powell is 27, so the length of his deal will be the biggest sticking point.  A 3-year deal would be the most Jet-friendly.  Of course, a lot of cap maneuvering by Maccagnan will need to occur to make this happen.  The Jets will then need to add a RB, preferably one who is a superb pass-catcher, in the middle rounds of the draft.  Powell, Ridley, Stacy and a Duke Johnson-type of RB would be a solid corps entering 2016.

 

WR

Keep:  Brandon Marshall, Eric Decker, Devin Smith, Quincy Enunwa

Re-sign:  Kenbrell Thompkins (cheap 2-year deal OR 1 year, $675,000), Shaq Evans (1 year, $600,000)

Trade/Cut (after June 1st):  Jeremy Kerley ($600,000 dead money, $2.5M cap savings)

Allow to hit free agency:  Chris Owusu, Joe Anderson

Need?  NO.

Rationale:  The status quo seems to be in order for the Jets at WR.  Marshall, Decker, Smith and Enunwa are all under contract thru either 2017 or 2018.  Thompkins, Owusu and Evans can be retained on the cheap and compete for spots on special teams, with Thompkins representing the best bet to be the # 4/5 WR.  With Jace Amaro hopefully returning in good health in 2016, the H-Back experiment for Enunwa should also be over.

Kerley should be either traded or cut based on his inability to fit the scheme and cap savings provided.  Waiting until after June 1st in order to reduce the dead money makes the best sense.  Before that point, every effort should be made to obtain a low round draft choice.  After investing a 2nd rounder last year at WR, the Jets are in a position where they will not need to pursue one in the 2016 draft unless the value is too good to pass up. 

 

TE/H-Back

Keep:  Jace Amaro, Wes Saxton

Cut:  Jeff Cumberland ($1.9M cap savings)

Allow to hit free agency:  Zach Sudfeld, Kellen Davis, Brandon Bostick

Need?  YES.  Address via free agency.

Rationale:  Cumberland becomes a cap casualty in 2016 with his role greatly diminished in Chan Gailey's system.  Re-signing cheaper is a possibility, but given that it would be better for Cumberland to find a home as a more traditional TE2 elsewhere, it doesn't seem particularly likely. 

With Jace Amaro returning, the Jets should look to see what he is capable of in 2016, with a decent backup in free agency being targeted to compete for the job with Wes Saxton.  TE is not particularly valuable in Chan Gailey's scheme, but the H-Back is.  And the Jets do not want to be forced to throw to blocking TE's like Kellen Davis again anytime soon. 

 

OT

Keep:  Breno Giacomini, Brent Qvale, Ben Ijalana

Re-structure:  D'Brickashaw Ferguson

Need?  YES.  Address via draft.

Rationale:  OT is an area on the field where the Jets need to be proactive.  Currently, no prospects exist to be the future LT replacement for Ferguson, who is 32.  The Jets had some of the best pass protection in the NFL this season, but that advantage will evaporate as Ferguson begins to struggle with speed-rushers.  Brick represents a cap hit of $14.1M in 2016 and his contract expires in 2017, and thus the Jets will want to restructure/extend his deal to backload the cap hit. 

Meanwhile, at RT, Giacomini came to the Jets with a reputation as a road grader type in Seattle's zone blocking scheme, much like the one Chan Gailey utilizes.  However, he disappointed in this area.  He is not particularly expensive and should remain on the roster, but ideally the Jets use an early draft pick on an OT who can compete at RT and simultaneously develop into the LT the team will need down the road. 

 

G

Keep:  James Carpenter, Brian Winters, Dakota Dozier, Jarvis Harrison

Allow to hit free agency:  Willie Colon

Need?  NO.

Rationale:  James Carpenter was the most underrated Jet in 2015.  Any success the Jets had running to the left side was due to his presence in between Brick and Mangold.  Brian Winters showed flashes, especially in pass-blocking, that made him under-appreciated as well.  Meanwhile, the running game did not seem to be impacted greatly by the loss of Willie Colon after Week 8.  Thus, at 32, the Jets can afford to lose him.  Dakota Dozier backed up both LG and RG positions in 2015, and with 2015 5th rounder Jarvis Harrison on the practice squad, the position does not represent a need.  The usual UDFA signings should certainly be made to bolster the depth at guard, but in ordinary circumstances only 3 guards will need to be active on gamedays.

 

C

Keep:  Nick Mangold, Wesley Johnson

Need?  NO.

Rationale:  With Mangold only representing an $8.6M cap hit next season (down from $10.4M in 2015) and signed thru 2017, nothing needs to change at this spot.  Backup Wesley Johnson is also under contract until after 2016.

 

DE/DT

Keep:  Sheldon Richardson, Leonard Williams, Mike Catapano, Josh Martin

Franchise Tag:  Muhammad Wilkerson (estimated 1 year, $15-16M)

Allow to hit free agency:  Leger Douzable, Stephen Bowen, Lawrence Okoye, Julian Howsare

Need?  NO.

Rationale:  The Jets are as set as a team can be at DE/DT if Wilkerson agrees to be franchise tagged.  After suffering a broken leg, a long-term deal needs to be off the table for both sides.  Wilkerson needs to prove he's healthy, but the Jets cannot let him walk either.  He and Sheldon Richardson (who also should not be moved) represent the only 2 elite players on the roster under the age of 30.  Douzable will unfortunately need to be let go, but the Jets should keep both Catapano (25 years old) and Martin (24), who are both under contract thru 2016.

 

NT

Keep:  Deon Simon

Allow to hit free agency:  Damon Harrison

Need?  NO.

Rationale:  While the NT position is important for the Jets, high draft capital/free agent dollars no longer need to be invested in the position as it was in the past.  2015 7th rounder Deon Simon, a 6-4, 321-lbs 25-year old, should get the first crack as heir apparent to "Snacks" at NT, who will just be too costly to bring back considering how much is already invested in interior defensive linemen.  It will be a tough loss given how much of an impact Harrison has made in his 3 years as a Jet, but one has to remember he was originally an undrafted free agent.  Should Simon fail to secure the role, there might just be another Harrison out there in the 2016 UDFA pool.

 

OLB

Keep:  Lorenzo Mauldin, Trevor Reilly

Allow to hit free agency:  Calvin Pace, Deion Barnes, Julian Stanford

Need?  YES.  Address via draft and/or free agency.

Rationale:  Unless Calvin Pace agrees to the veteran minimum (1 year, $985,000), it's likely time for the 35-year old and the Jets to part ways, thus saving his roster spot for a younger, more athletic edge rusher.  Mauldin was great for the Jets in 2015, and a feel-good story to boot.  His presence eliminates the need for the Jets to feel they MUST take an edge rusher in the 1st round in the 2016 draft.  However, on the other side, Trevor Reilly is effective but may only be best used in a rotational role.  Thus, the Jets may need to sign another veteran OLB, though one that is a lot less longer in the tooth than Pace.

 

ILB

Keep:  David Harris, Taiwan Jones

Re-Sign:  Erin Henderson (2-3 year deal OR 1-year, $885,000)

Allow to hit free agency:  Demario Davis, Jamari Lattimore

Need?  YES.  Address via draft.

Rationale:  Davis will be another prominent cap casualty for the Jets.  It's tough to lose a 26-year old who has been a solid leader/character guy for the Jets, but he lacks the athleticism needed to handle the ILB role.  This is particularly true with a slow David Harris in tow.  An early draft pick will need to be used to upgrade the position, while Henderson and Taiwan Jones ought to be kept as capable backups. 

 

CB

Keep:  Darrelle Revis, Buster Skrine, Marcus Williams, Dexter McDougle, Dee Milliner

Cut/trade:  Antonio Cromartie ($8M in cap savings)

Allow to hit free agency:  Darrin Walls, Kevin Short

Need?  NO.

Rationale:  With $12M in cap savings represented in Cromartie and Milliner, it would be the best decision to cut Cromartie and perhaps look for a trade partner with Milliner.  Assuming the former happens, bringing Cro back on a cheaper deal makes sense.  However, Milliner does not present much trade value, unfortunately, and $4M in savings is likely not enough to simply cut him and part ways with a former top-10 pick, even if it was another regime that made that decision.  Beyond UDFA pickups, corner does not need a lot of additions.

 

S

Keep:  Calvin Pryor, Marcus Gilchrist, Rontez Miles, Dion Bailey, Ronald Martin

Allow to hit free agency:  Antonio Allen, Jaiquawn Jarrett

Need?  NO.

Rationale:  With Gilchrist commanding a $5.6M cap hit in 2016, the Jets won't likely be able to spend much of significance on safety depth next season.  With that in mind, Antonio Allen, who suffered a torn achilles last August, probably shouldn't be brought back.  Jaiquawn Jarrett, a former 2nd round pick in 2011, also got hurt and probably won't be brought back.  Miles, Bailey and Martin are all under contract next season on the cheap to likely compete for 2 spots.  Whoever proves the least valuable on special teams should be let go in camp or preseason.

 

K

Keep:  Nick Folk

Allow to hit free agency:  Randy Bullock

Need?  NO.

Rationale:  With Folk returning to full health next season and under contract thru 2017, Bullock's services are no longer needed.  A missed 40-yard FG against the Bills Week 17 and the Jets' unwillingness to allow him to attempt 50+ yarders (he went 0-1 in 8 games) makes him a goner.

 

P

Allow to hit free agency:  Ryan Quigley

Need?  YES.  Address via free agency or UDFA.

Rationale:  After shanking a 21-yard punt against the Bills Week 17, seemingly ANY replacement will do at punter. 

 

KR/PR

Need?  YES.  Address via draft/UDFA

Rationale:  Earlier in the above analysis, Jeremy Kerley (starting PR) and Antonio Cromartie (KR) get jettisoned, leaving only Kenbrell Thompkins (KR) and Eric Decker (PR) on the depth chart.  Neither of these are ideal choices, particular not Decker given his importance to the offense.  Devin Smith cannot be trusted after a key fumble against the Bills in November.  Shaq Evans returned 17 punts his Senior year at UCLA, but is merely a low level option and may not even make the team in 2016.  Thus, the Jets will need to address both the KR and PR spots this offseason.

 

LS

Keep:  Tanner Purdum

Need?  NO.

Rationale:  Purdum is under contract thru 2016.

 

 

Total approximate cap savings from cuts/trades:  $16-21M

Resulting approximate cap space for re-signing players/free agents:  $30-35M

Approximate 2016 cap hit from re-signed players:  $28-30M

Give up on a young LB. I DON'T THINK SO.