Contracts Jets Must Consider Cutting in 2024 Offseason
The New York Jets enter the 2024 NFL offseason not in the position they expected to be in after all of the moves that were made last year.
Aaron Rodgers' torn Achilles in Week 1 derailed all of the expectations for the franchise and now they are looking forward to 2024 with even more pressure on the organization.
A fully-healthy Rodgers is expected to start the first game of next season, but before then, the Jets have to reconfigure their roster to make everything fit better around the aging quarterback.
The Jets' first move might be to shed the contract of Rodgers' backup, Zach Wilson, who showed in 2023 that he is not the guy to even backup a reliable signal-caller.
Wilson's draft selection was an outright failure and the Jets may have to admit that the hard way in the offseason by letting him go.
The Jets could also part ways with a few other players to become more salary cap friendly than they already are to construct the best roster possible around Rodgers.
Zach Wilson
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It's time for Zach Wilson to go.
The No. 2 overall pick in the 2021 NFL draft failed to live up to any expectations set for him by the franchise.
Wilson struggled at times in 2023 to just be a solid backup quarterback to keep the Jets afloat while Rodgers teased a potential return.
Wilson is scheduled to possess a salary cap hit of $11.1 million in 2024, per Spotrac, which is a brutal waste of money at this point.
The Jets could keep Wilson around and hope he does not see the field as the backup quarterback, or they could cut him loose through a release or trade.
A trade seems unlikely because of the low return Wilson would garner, but it might be worth exploring that avenue to see if any team can take on even part of his remaining contract.
C.J. Uzomah
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C.J. Uzomah recorded 290 receiving yards in his first two seasons with the Jets.
The 31-year-old's three-year, $24 million deal turned out to a massive bust. You can't even argue in favor of it if he somehow turns around his career in 2024.
The Jets have a potential out on the tight end's deal this offseason that would cost the team $5.9 million in dead cap money, per Spotrac.
The salary cap hit is probably worth it to avoid paying Uzomah the $11.2 million left on the deal that would count toward the cap.
The Jets do not need to dedicate $20 million of salary cap space to two tight ends, and Tyler Conklin's 2023 production makes him a more viable candidate to stay than Uzomah.
Allen Lazard
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Allen Lazard will most likely have a roster spot in 2024 because of his long connection with Rodgers.
If he stays, Lazard needs to prove he can be a reliable part of the offense.
Lazard recorded a career low of 311 receiving yards across 10 games this season. He will be the Jets' seventh-highest earner in 2024.
Lazard's four-year, $44 million looks horrible at the moment because of his lack of productivity in 2023.
He did have his best season in 2022 alongside Rodgers with the Green Bay Packers, but this is also a player with one campaign over 600 receiving yards.
Lazard's career numbers do not match up with any other wide receiver making eight figures in a season. His inactivity in 2023 could actually lead the Jets to splashing more cash in free agency to make sure Rodgers has the best set of talent around him to thrive in 2024.
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