Manish on UDFA Payouts

[slats]

Actually interesting...

Jets 2020 undrafted free agent contract details reveal which players are valued most

By MANISH MEHTA

NEW YORK DAILY NEWS |

MAY 20, 2020 | 7:00 AM

 

 

 

 

 

The Jets’ roster-building plan comes into focus when cold hard cash becomes your compass.

Shortly after general manager Joe Douglas completed his nine-man draft class, he signed nine more undrafted players. Some were familiar names, others were not, but a deep dive reveals which undrafted free agents are coveted the most by the organization.

Follow the money.

The Daily News peeled back the curtain and found out how much loot the Jets forked over for each of the nine undrafted players. It should give everyone a good indication which guys will be sticking around in some capacity as rookies.

The News reported last month that Jets brass told people that there were cash flow restrictions during free agency. To that end, Douglas had little choice but to work around the ownership-driven budgetary constraints this offseason by doling out a litany of one-year — or de facto one-year — contracts.

[More Jets] Jets Mailbag: Is Logan Ryan joining Gang Green? »

Douglas & Co. didn’t come close to reaching the NFL’s maximum amount of signing bonus money allowed for undrafted free agents (a little more than $123,000), according to sources. In fact, Gang Green doled out only about $74,000 in signing bonuses — or 60% of the league’s ceiling.

Every undrafted free agent gets a three-year, $2.285 million contract, but what matters is the total guarantee comprised of signing bonus and a portion of the 2020 base salary. Those numbers provide clarity about which players were desired more by the organization.

This year’s unusual offseason creates greater uncertainty for many undrafted players given that they’ll miss out on spring workouts to prove their value. However, an organization is likely to give more rope to players that it’s more financially invested in.

Memphis' Bryce Huff (55)(Jim Weber/The Daily News/AP)

The Jets gave the most guaranteed money to Memphis edge rusher Bryce Huff, who received $90,000 ($15,000 signing bonus and $75,000 guaranteed base salary).

The 6-1, 254-pound Huff was a terror with 16 sacks and 34 ½ tackles for loss in his final two seasons in college. The Jets are fully aware that they need to boost pressure off the edge.

[More Jets] Jets Mailbag: Is Logan Ryan joining Gang Green? »

For all the fair concerns surrounding the Jets’ worst-ranked offense from a year ago, the top two paid undrafted free agents were defensive players.

Versatile Alabama defensive back Shyheim Carter got the second most guaranteed money with $72,000 ($12,000 signing bonus and $60,000 guaranteed base salary).

The 5-11, 194-pound Carter played the “star” nickel position for Nick Saban. Although Carter doesn’t have superior athleticism and size, NFL talent evaluators are impressed with his football I.Q. and versatility to play slot cornerback or free safety. Carter was a stat-sheet stuffer in 2018 (10 pass break-ups, two pick-sixes, 3 ½ tackles for loss in 12 starts) before taking a slight statistical dip last season. But he rebounded fairly well after undergoing sports hernia surgery following the 2018 campaign.

The Jets’ largest investment on offense went to Washington offensive tackle Jared Hilbers, who got $62,000 in guarantees ($12,000 signing bonus and $50,000 guaranteed base salary). Hilbers started 12 games apiece on the right and left sides in his final two seasons. The 6-6, 310-pounder, who has a high school basketball pedigree, is an intriguing athletic project.

On the flip side, UNC Pembroke’s Domenique Davis is the biggest longshot.

[More Jets] Jets’ Mekhi Becton has sights set on starting role, playoffs in rookie season »

The Jets guaranteed just $650 to the Division 2 defensive lineman, who led his team with six tackles for loss and three sacks last season. Davis will certainly have plenty of motivation to prove that he deserved more money.

How many of the nine undrafted free agents make the 53-man roster or are brought back to the practice squad after cuts remains uncertain. But the Jets’ financial investments reveals the organization’s belief in each player.

Here’s a look at the financial commitments of the nine undrafted players (starting with those that got the most guaranteed money).

• Memphis LB Bryce Huff: Signing bonus: $15,000 Guaranteed base salary: $75,000 Total investment: $90,000
• Alabama DB Shyheim Carter: Signing bonus: $12,000 Guaranteed base salary: $60,000 Total investment: $72,000
• Washington OT Jared Hilbers: Signing bonus: $12,000 Guaranteed base salary: $50,000 Total investment: $62,000
• Coastal Carolina DL Sterling Johnson: Signing bonus: $10,000 Guaranteed base salary: $50,000 Total Investment: $60,000
• Georgia WR Lawrence Cager: Signing bonus: $7,500 Guaranteed base salary: $50,000 Total investment: $57,500
• Utah CB Javelin Guidry: Signing bonus: $7,000 Guaranteed base salary: $40,000 Total investment: $47,000
• Nebraska CB Lamar Jackson: Signing bonus: $7,500 Guaranteed base salary: $20,000 Total investment: $27,500
• West Virginia WR George Campbell: Signing bonus: $2,500
• UNC-Pembroke DL Domenique Davis: Total investment: $650

[Sarge4Tide]

I got a larger signing bonus then some of those guys to join the Army back in 1984

[rangerous]

can hilbers catch the ball?  the jets now have two tackles with basketball backgrounds.  could be pretty interesting to see either of these guys line up as tackle eligible.

the rest is the usual tripe by maneesh.  it's not like 100K is much money for a pro athlete.  i guess you can read a little into which udfa's got more consideration.  it's guaranteed whereas the signing contract isn't.  it's not going to be very easy for a dlineman from a d2 school to make this roster.

[CTJetsFan]

Surprised at the Carter # .

[mrcoops]

Interesting stuff, made more annoying by Mehta-isms such as "peeling back the curtain".

F off, Manish.

What is interesting is Carter getting a larger guarantee, and Guidry getting way more than Jackson.

Also the Jets must like Cager quite a bit more than Campbell, based on their respective deals.

Huff at the top is no surprise. He's got a legit shot of becoming an NFL pass-rush specialist.

[Lil O]

11 minutes ago, Sarge4Tide said:

I got a larger signing bonus then some of those guys to join the Army back in 1984

Right!?  I know that NFL pay is widely uneven, but I had no idea the same applies to UDFAs.  I would think the difference in pay wouldn’t be too great.  But 90,000 vs 650!  I would feel insulted.  Should definitely motivate!

[slats]

10 minutes ago, mrcoops said:

Interesting stuff, made more annoying by Mehta-isms such as "peeling back the curtain".

F off, Manish.

What is interesting is Carter getting a larger guarantee, and Guidry getting way more than Jackson.

Also the Jets must like Cager quite a bit more than Campbell, based on their respective deals.

Huff at the top is no surprise. He's got a legit shot of becoming an NFL pass-rush specialist.

Agreed all around. We talk about the OL in here endlessly, but no one’s been talking about Hilbers. And a DT up there, too? Not expected. 

[Thai Jet]

13 minutes ago, mrcoops said:

Interesting stuff, made more annoying by Mehta-isms such as "peeling back the curtain".

F off, Manish.

What is interesting is Carter getting a larger guarantee, and Guidry getting way more than Jackson.

Also the Jets must like Cager quite a bit more than Campbell, based on their respective deals.

Huff at the top is no surprise. He's got a legit shot of becoming an NFL pass-rush specialist.

LMAO couldn't agree more. I'd like to peel his head back. He's such a tool.  I was surprised that Guidry got that much, especially after what Greenbean had to say about him.

[mrcoops]

Just now, slats said:

Agreed all around. We talk about the OL in here endlessly, but no one’s been talking about Hilbers. And a DT up there, too? Not expected. 

Forgot to mention Hilbers, thanks. Jets clearly think he's got some ability, and he could be the 4th tackle or move inside to OG.

The DT is a real surprise. Not going to pretend I know anything about him though.

[#27TheDominator]

2 minutes ago, rangerous said:

can hilbers catch the ball?  the jets now have two tackles with basketball backgrounds.  could be pretty interesting to see either of these guys line up as tackle eligible.

Which two?  Hilbers was all-league in Oregon, but there are plenty of videos of Becton played in high school and he was supposedly a star.  Fant is the real basketball player.  He was all-conference for a few years at Western Kentucky.  He took a year at TE there, but only had one catch.  He added 25 lbs and worked out as TE, OL, DL, and LB.  Cable was given the choice of UDFA and selected Fant because he was a "long-armed athlete." He has one catch in the NFL.

[Jetsfan80]

1 hour ago, Sarge4Tide said:

I got a larger signing bonus then some of those guys to join the Army back in 1984

The NFL isn't very glamorous for the fringe guys, that's for sure.  

[Jetsfan80]

Quote

UNC-Pembroke DL Domenique Davis: Total investment: $650

 

Is this correct?  We all got significantly more out of our stimulus checks.  

[Arsis]

Womanish Mental

[rangerous]

1 hour ago, #27TheDominator said:

Which two?  Hilbers was all-league in Oregon, but there are plenty of videos of Becton played in high school and he was supposedly a star.  Fant is the real basketball player.  He was all-conference for a few years at Western Kentucky.  He took a year at TE there, but only had one catch.  He added 25 lbs and worked out as TE, OL, DL, and LB.  Cable was given the choice of UDFA and selected Fant because he was a "long-armed athlete." He has one catch in the NFL.

my bad.  yes fant is a good bb player too.

[ElBarrioJets]

There's definitely room on the roster for the top paid UDFA guys. 

Huff can be a 3rd down pass rushing specialist. 

Hilbers can be the 4th tackle/PS candidate

Even Cager/Campbell have a chance to stick as the 6th/7th receivers. They both have size and probably just need to beat out Josh Doctson, which is not a tall order. 

 

 

[slats]

1 hour ago, ElBarrioJets said:

Even Cager/Campbell have a chance to stick as the 6th/7th receivers. They both have size and probably just need to beat out Josh Doctson, which is not a tall order.

I posted this in the pinned UDFA thread, but no one reads threads once their pinned.... 

But...  Cager has teeny-tiny hands. He’s over 6’4”, but has hands under 9”. That’s like unheard of levels of small. Something of a disadvantage for someone wanting to be an NFL WR, I’d think. 

[T0mShane]

The cash-poor, threadbare, destitute Jets currently have Brian Winters and Avery Williamson—both of whom they could cut today with no penalty and save ~$15 million in cash by doing so—on the roster. 

[JohnnyLV]

1 hour ago, T0mShane said:

The cash-poor, threadbare, destitute Jets currently have Brian Winters and Avery Williamson—both of whom they could cut today with no penalty and save ~$15 million in cash by doing so—on the roster. 

Avery Williamson is a very good player. And his contract is reasonable, plus we had injury concerns at the position last year. I dont cut him. Winters can go party with McCoffee for all i care

[T0mShane]

5 minutes ago, johnnysd said:

Avery Williamson is a very good player. And his contract is reasonable, plus we had injury concerns at the position last year. I dont cut him. Winters can go party with McCoffee for all i care

I like Williamson. My point was that if, as Mehta is bleating on about, the Jets are cash-poor to the degree that they couldn’t sign players, they would’ve cut Winters and Williamson a long time ago

[y2k8]

 

• UNC-Pembroke DL Domenique Davis: Total investment: $650

 

This doesn't even cover expenses to travel to and from training camp! 

[Barkus]

21 hours ago, Jetsfan80 said:

 

Is this correct?  We all got significantly more out of our stimulus checks.  

Seriously, this will barely cover his plane ticket to training camp!

[GREENBEAN]

22 hours ago, mrcoops said:

Forgot to mention Hilbers, thanks. Jets clearly think he's got some ability, and he could be the 4th tackle or move inside to OG.

The DT is a real surprise. Not going to pretend I know anything about him though.

I like Hilbers a lot but he's going to take time. I could see him getting poached from our practice squad if he's there for more than a year or so. Maybe 2.  6'7" 280.  He needs to bulk up but the talent is there.  If he can get up to 295 while adding muscle he will be a candidature for swing or even a starter later on. Solid depth developmental guy. 

[32EBoozer]

1 hour ago, GREENBEAN said:

I like Hilbers a lot but he's going to take time. I could see him getting poached from our practice squad if he's there for more than a year or so. Maybe 2.  6'7" 280.  He needs to bulk up but the talent is there.  If he can get up to 295 while adding muscle he will be a candidature for swing or even a starter later on. Solid depth developmental guy. 

Remember we have some 1 yr. deals and I think Harrison a FA next year. 

[GREENBEAN]

Remember we have some 1 yr. deals and I think Harrison a FA next year. 

Right. We did a good job of beginning the pipeline of young players learning behind the starters this year on the OL.
Van roten, Lewis, Andrews, Clarke, Lewis, edoga, hilbers. And we can and will grab more next year.
I like our developmental group


Sent from my iPhone using JetNation.com mobile app

[Vudu]

$650 to get your brain bashed in in training camp?

[ljr]

On 5/21/2020 at 4:42 PM, slats said:

I posted this in the pinned UDFA thread, but no one reads threads once their pinned.... 

 

 

unfortunately true

I always have intentions to jump back in and revue after the first look through ... keep getting distracted by Jamal threads though

[nycdan]

On 5/22/2020 at 11:34 AM, y2k8 said:

 

• UNC-Pembroke DL Domenique Davis: Total investment: $650

 

This doesn't even cover expenses to travel to and from training camp! 

It's basically nothing more than a training camp invite but it locks him into showing up.  The Jets spent more than that on some of Rex Ryan's dinners so no biggie on their end.  I would imagine if nobody else offers you even that, you take it so you know you're at least a name on the radar when you show up for whatever that's worth.

[ljr]

1 hour ago, DLJ said:

$650 to get your brain bashed in in training camp?

 

what we do to follow our dreams

[David Harris]

On 5/21/2020 at 1:11 PM, mrcoops said:

Forgot to mention Hilbers, thanks. Jets clearly think he's got some ability, and he could be the 4th tackle or move inside to OG.

The DT is a real surprise. Not going to pretend I know anything about him though.

Hilbers was a good college player, good basketball athlete and if not for alligator arms could’ve be drafted. He’s tall but has 31.5 inch arms which is freakishly bad for a man his size.

[David Harris]

22 hours ago, 32EBoozer said:

Remember we have some 1 yr. deals and I think Harrison a FA next year. 

Harrison is scheduled to make more than Joe Flacco this year which is crazy to think about.  He’s in a fight for his roster spot with over 2 mill but no guaranteed money

[32EBoozer]

2 hours ago, David Harris said:

Hilbers was a good college player, good basketball athlete and if not for alligator arms could’ve be drafted. He’s tall but has 31.5 inch arms which is freakishly bad for a man his size.

Those extra 2 inches make all the difference in the world. ?