Jets Offseason Blueprint, Part 3: Looking at Potential Cap Casualties by John B Jan 30, 2017, 3:00pm EST TWEET rad Penner-USA TODAY Sports This is the third installment of our offseason blueprint series. While we do not yet know the exact figure of the salary cap in 2017, it is quite likely the team is currently over it. Do not fear, though. There are numerous potential cuts the team can make to create space. Here I will offer my advice for which ones to make and which ones to not make. Make the following cuts: These are the players I am not inclined to keep. Ryan Clady (Cap savings: $10 million): The Jets pushed back the timeframe for a potential decision on Clady by restructuring his deal, but this one is a no brainer. The Jets need to find a more reliable left tackle. In the event they don’t find somebody else, Clady’s cap number needs to come way down. This is a player who has suited up for 27 games in the last four seasons. That is a scrap heap, prove it type of player. His salary will need to be cut three quarters to make it reasonable. Darrelle Revis (Cap savings: $7.3 million): Revis might go down as the greatest cornerback of his generation. At the very least, he is in the discussion. At his best, he was a pleasure to watch. Let’s put this moving to safety talk to rest, though. Even if we cut his $15.3 cap number salary in half, he’d still be making too much for a first time safety. Buster Skrine (Cap savings: $3.5 million): I think Skrine would have some utility for a team that was looking to win big in 2017. He would provide a certain baseline level of play out of the slot. Since the Jets don’t figure to be competing for a championship, giving those reps to a younger player who might have a lower floor won’t have a major impact. Marcus Gilchrist (Cap savings: $4.6 million): It is a similar concept with Gilchrist. On a better team, I could see the argument for keeping him. I don’t think the dropoff is steep enough for a team in the Jets’ position to keep him around, though. Breno Giacomini (Cap savings: $4.5 million): The way things played out showed that Mike Maccagnan probably mishandled Giacomini a year ago. It wasn’t so much that Giacomini got hurt. It was that the Jets used two scrap heap players and a rookie fifth rounder in place of Giacomini and saw little if any dropoff in quality. There was no reason to have him eating around $5 million in cap space last year, and there certainly isn’t this year. Steve McLendon (Cap savings: $2.1 million): Damon Harrison had a great year with the Giants, but the Jets’ run defense saw virtually no dropoff after losing the nose tackle. The Jets ranked fourth in the league, allowing 3.7 yards per rush, up only slightly from 3.6 last year. McLendon was a decent signing who helped fill the void. I do wonder whether the Jets would have made it again if they had a chance to do it over, though. It isn’t that McLendon was bad. It’s just the Jets had limited cap space, and Deon Simon looked pretty impressive when he got a chance. In 2017 Simon will see his snap total go up. Erin Henderson (Cap savings: $2.5 million): Henderson was supposed to be a starter, but Darron Lee took snaps from him right off the bat. Henderson then mysterious disappeared. Only make these cuts if there’s a plan to replace these players: As we discussed in Part 1, the Jets need to cut the fat, not cut to the bone. There are veteran players who can play a constructive part in the rebuilding process by holding down critical roles, helping a young quarterback have success, and/or serving as a veteran mentor. I’m not saying the Jets necessarily need to bring any of these guys back. I am saying that if the Jets dump any of these guys, there had better be a plan to bring in a player with comparable talent to fill that same role. Eric Decker (Cap savings if cut: $5.75 million): Decker was an important part of the Jets’ success in 2015, and his absence was felt in 2016. As we discussed in Part 1, the Jets need to build a roster that will help a young quarterback have success. It might sound enticing on paper to go young and treat 2017 as a glorified preseason to get as many young receivers experience as possible. If the plan is to create the right environment for a quarterback, however, having quality receivers like Decker around is very important. Brandon Marshall (Cap savings if cut: $7.5 million): Marshall is more of a wild card since there have been a few rumblings about potential locker room problems. It seems like he has had a certain shelf life at each of his previous stops. We can’t say for sure. What I can say is the Jets had better get a top flight security blanket if they jettison Marshall. They can’t trot a bunch of young, inexperienced receivers out there with a young quarterback and expect good things to happen. Nick Mangold (Cap savings if cut: $9 million): I’d like to reduce this salary, but I’d be inclined to keep Mangold around, even if it’s a tough pill to swallow. The most likely way to lower his 2017 cap number would be to work out an extension, but that is a nonstarter given his age. We’ve created enough cap space to carry him with our other cuts. Again, we have to think of a young quarterback. Having a veteran center to help identify fronts is going to be important, and this keeps some continuity on the offensive line. I haven’t seen enough out of Wesley Johnson to have confidence he’d be a good starting option. I think people are going a little crazy because PFF said he had one good game in San Francisco. David Harris (Cap savings if cut: $6.5 million): As we’ve discussed, my focus on the offensive side of the ball is building an offensive infrastructure where a young quarterback can succeed. I’m fine with largely going young on defense. I’d like to keep around a veteran or two for leadership purposes if possible. Fortunately, Harris is still a productive player and a positive force to have around. Nick Folk (Cap savings if cut: $3 million): I’ve made no secret of my distaste for this contract, but the people want Folk, and GM John B gives the people what they want. Well, not really. I have a better reason for this that I’ll explain at the end. If we add up the savings from the cuts we’ve made and add on the Sheldon Richardson move from Part 2, we will have created over $40 million in cap space. I wouldn’t spend it all. I would want the Jets to use caution. The players I have kept have a hidden benefit. Marshall, Mangold, Harris, and Folk all have expiring contracts in 2017, which means the Jets could set themselves up for a compensatory pick or two if these guys leave and sign a deal elsewhere. Their ages mean all could regress and/or retire after the season so there are no guarantees. The Jets need to start factoring the potential for compensatory picks into their decision-making, though.
I'd cut everyone, draft 7 guys and sign 46 free agents that are fucking hungry and are honored to put on that green and white uniform.
Have to be petty, but you see this right? That said, Deon could be a good NT for us, but for 2.1M McLendon is a pretty decent rotational player.
I agree with most of these. I think the three toughest decisions come down to Revis, Mangold and Marshall Revis - while most of the posters here want him gone, he still is the "big name" marketable player on that defense. Don't forget this is a business so I can see the Jets and Woody squeezing that for any juice he has left. I, personally, would get rid of him if he didn't agree to a pay cut, but i can't like part of me won't be sentimental that he was probably the best Jet I've ever seen (been a fan since '98). Mangold - this one is the hardest decision this offseason. While Mangold still has the ability to play, his body is breaking down. How can yo uget rid of a guy who is such a fan favorite and really one of the few true leaders this team has. I think you have to keep him one more year just to keep continuity on the line between Carp- Mangold - Winters Marshall - this, in my opinion, is the easiest cut out of these three. Thank you Brandon for the excitement of 2015 and really trying to hold it together in the beginning of 2016, but every target he gets is one less target for Enunwa, Anderson, Smith, Peake and Jalin Marshall. That can't happen on a rebuilding team, especially with Decker coming back into the fold.
Harris I would hold onto. I also think we need Marshall or Decker but not both. We might get sime minimal value for Marshall in a trade but I think given the injury Decker would be a cut if we don't want him. At his current salary Mangold is a luxury we can't afford as are Revis and Folk. Clady is a huge risk we don't need. LT is our # 1 priority in free agency. QB, CB, and FS also need to be addressed before the draft.
If they're really going to go into next season with Petty and/or Hackenbarf at QB, a career all-pro center calling the signals is almost a necessity. You go into next season with either a castoff from another team or some new guy who has never been a consistent starter at center in the NFL, you are basically saying "Fuck the QBs and the offense" for at least a season and probably more.
If we get Reilly Reiff and move Shell to RT we could get by with a hold the fort guy at center until next year, especially if we get any skill position players out of this draft. A good TE or great RB would take a lot of pressure off of our young QB and the OL.
Why would Skrine automatically be gone? He doesn't free up a lot of cap space and Revis and at least 1 safety are off this team this year. I would keep him 1 more year for continuity sake. On another note, it will be interesting to see if they keep Harris and/or Mangold. Both players are more expensive than their play has warranted, but we need to retain some vets. I think we should restructure Mangold at the very least as he is a good signal caller and centers probably have the longest careers of any position on the offensive line
100% agree. Unless we are right up against it cap wise, and given we're not contending next year, why would we be, I think we should keep Mangold. Developing a young qb would be greatly enhanced by his experience and ability.
Keep in mind that we get to roll our unused cap space over to use next year. It is not as much about being up against the cap now but having money to spend later when we actually have a chance to be competitive.
Hehe, to be fair I hadn't kept that in mind! Even so I still think we should keep Mangold on balance, but not as clear cut as it was.
With Snacks gone and Lee drafted, Harris is about our only tackler left in the middle of the field. We almost HAVE to keep him. Heck, give him another raise. Buster should move back to Nickle, like we brought him in for. He got called for a TON of ticky-tack holding penalties last year while chasing WRs down the sidelines, many of which were BS calls, but if that's how the refs are gonna prioritize the passing game, then we have to move Skrine back inside. At Nickel, he's one of the best. Keep him. Steve McLendon was Macc's answer to letting Snacks walk (Macc's biggest mistake as GM). But Steve tries to be more of a 3 down gap shooter versus a 2 down, stick your nose in there stuff the run kind of guy. We failed to get off the field A LOT last season on 3rd and short. We gave up A LOT of 3-4-5 yard runs up the gut on those plays, right were Snacks used to be. I know 3-4-5 yards don't add up to much,so it's easy to point to the stat sheet and say "See, we did the same with or without Snacks". Not true. With Snacks, teams didn't even TRY running up the middle. W/O Snacks, teams converted 3rd and short all day long up the middle. McLendon was not the answer to Damon Harrison. It's Deon Simon's time now. Ennie-Minnee-Minee-Mo. Marshall or Decker. I say we keep them both and try to re-create the Fitz-Magic of 2015, or we keep Decker and cut Marshall. Since we don't have the QB to re-create the Ftiz-Magic show, and we have a stable of young WRs looking for reps we should cut one of the NFL's top pass catching dynamic duo. I say we cut Marshall keep Decker. Decker has already played as the top dog with Geno as QB and did pretty good with no help. I liked Decker playing alone better than Marshall played alone last season. Keep Decker. Revis....cut. more later
Unless we get offered something good in a draft day trade I would hold onto Marshall until we are sure Decker is going to be healthy enough to play on opening day. Once we are sure that both are healthy we can flip a coin.
The only caveat would be based on Mangold's health: can he play at 100% )adjusted for his age) for the season? Obviously injuries happen, and especially to older players, so that's just a gamble you take given his caliber.But if he's permanently hobbled, he might have to be retired with honor.
That makes sense, but I really don't like the idea of him being on the team stirring up dissension and drama.
Our young receivers have been playing well. Perhaps they are learning something by working with Marshall.
That's true, and your previous point, about not cutting him unless we're sure we can afford to, is valid. But if he's a poison, I would get rid of him. Of course, I might hold onto him giving the perception that I value him, and look for someone who wants to trade for him. I mean the guy obviously has huge talent and can help a team, even for a short time, so a contender might be willing to take him on.
This is such a sad situation. If there was any sort of succession planning, maybe it would be possible to let some of these aging and expensive guys walk. But, realistically, the 2017 Jets are 99% fucked if they cut all of them as the team can't replace that talent level. But, if they keep some of them, either straight up or through restructuring, the 2017 Jets at least have some chance (a greater chance than not keeping them?) of making some noise. Keep One: Marshall/Decker; Skrine/Gilchrist Cut/Trade: Revis, McLendon, Henderson Keep: Mangold, Harris, Folk Wait-and-See: Clady Sent from my Nexus 6P using Tapatalk
IMO even with all those vets back, the Jets aren't going anywhere this season, especially with a novice HC who has never called a play in the NFL before. The only two of the ones you mentioned that I'd definitely keep are McLendon and Decker, and probably Skrine, although he hasn't played that well. I'd keep McLendon because he's cheap, Decker if he's healthy. The only reason I'd keep Skrine is so I didn't have to replace 3/5 or 4/5 of my "starting" DBs. I may keep Harris or Mangold if I could get them to take a cheaper contract. With regards to Mangold, I'd have to make certain that he was healthy and likely to stay that way. I'd be more inclined to keep Harris. Gilchrist and Revis should definitely be gone. They're taking a wait and see approach with Clady, but if I'm Mac, I'm doing everything I can to replace him. As soon as it was allowable by league rules, I'd be on the phone with the agents for Whitworth, Reiff and Okung and see if there was any possibility in any of the three coming back. I'd be studying the FA lists to see if there was a younger, lesser known LT who might become available, and I'd darn sure be vetting every possible LT prospect in the draft, and I'd be exploring trade down possibilities with other teams.