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Which players will be dumped in Jets' salary-cap casualty bin?
4:38 PM ET
Rich Cimini
ESPN Staff Writer
Reaching into the New York Jets mailbag for Week 17:
The Admiral @FoxberryJam
@RichCimini #jetsmail Biggest salary cap casualties this coming off-season?
12:09 PM - 1 Jan 2016
@RichCimini: The Jets don't have a lot of bloated contracts. The biggest name, of course, is Antonio Cromartie. Why him? He'll be 32 and he's an easy cut because of the way his contract is structured. He has three years left on his deal, but none of it is guaranteed. His cap charge for 2016 is $8 million, and they can wipe the entire amount from the cap by releasing him -- and I believe they will. Cromartie has played better in recent weeks, but I wonder how much of that is due to the competition. They haven't faced too many dangerous quarterback-wide receiver tandems. The decision also could be based on how they feel about Buster Skrine or Marcus Williams moving into a full-time role.
Speaking of corners, Dee Milliner is an interesting name. The underachieving former first-round pick has a $4 million cap charge, but it makes little sense to release him because the money is guaranteed and they wouldn't save any cap space. They should bring him into training camp and let him compete, hoping he stays healthy for a change. There is some talent there. They'll have to make a decision by the spring on whether to exercise his fifth-year option, but as we saw with Quinton Coples, it's just a procedural move with no long-term ramifications.
Another likely cap casualty is Jeremy Kerley ($3.1 million), whose small role doesn't match his salary. He's only an average punt returner and he wouldn't be among the top four wide receivers in 2016, maybe not among the top five. They'd save $1.3 million by cutting him. Frankly, I think he'd welcome a change of scenery. This has been a frustrating year for Kerley, who still has the skills to play in the right situation.
Another player on thin ice is tight end Jeff Cumberland ($1.9 million), whose role in Chan Gailey's offense has vanished -- only six offensive snaps in the last two games. Because of Kellen Davis' foot injury, Cumberland could have a prominent role Sunday against the Buffalo Bills, but I don't see him back next year. They'd save the entire $1.9 million.
The position group to watch is the offensive line. It's an aging unit, and I can see general manager Mike Maccagnan making a bold move or two to get younger. D'Brickashaw Ferguson ($14.1 million) and Nick Mangold ($8.6 million) have big numbers, so I could see the front office approaching them about re-working their deals. Breno Giacomini ($5.1 million) could be in some trouble if they draft a tackle in the first two rounds.
Some people might be wondering about Geno Smith ($1.6 million). My response is, what's the rush to get rid of him? He has one year left on his contract, at a reasonable number, and it's not easy to find experienced backups.
4:38 PM ET
Rich Cimini
ESPN Staff Writer
Reaching into the New York Jets mailbag for Week 17:
The Admiral @FoxberryJam
@RichCimini #jetsmail Biggest salary cap casualties this coming off-season?
12:09 PM - 1 Jan 2016
@RichCimini: The Jets don't have a lot of bloated contracts. The biggest name, of course, is Antonio Cromartie. Why him? He'll be 32 and he's an easy cut because of the way his contract is structured. He has three years left on his deal, but none of it is guaranteed. His cap charge for 2016 is $8 million, and they can wipe the entire amount from the cap by releasing him -- and I believe they will. Cromartie has played better in recent weeks, but I wonder how much of that is due to the competition. They haven't faced too many dangerous quarterback-wide receiver tandems. The decision also could be based on how they feel about Buster Skrine or Marcus Williams moving into a full-time role.
Speaking of corners, Dee Milliner is an interesting name. The underachieving former first-round pick has a $4 million cap charge, but it makes little sense to release him because the money is guaranteed and they wouldn't save any cap space. They should bring him into training camp and let him compete, hoping he stays healthy for a change. There is some talent there. They'll have to make a decision by the spring on whether to exercise his fifth-year option, but as we saw with Quinton Coples, it's just a procedural move with no long-term ramifications.
Another likely cap casualty is Jeremy Kerley ($3.1 million), whose small role doesn't match his salary. He's only an average punt returner and he wouldn't be among the top four wide receivers in 2016, maybe not among the top five. They'd save $1.3 million by cutting him. Frankly, I think he'd welcome a change of scenery. This has been a frustrating year for Kerley, who still has the skills to play in the right situation.
Another player on thin ice is tight end Jeff Cumberland ($1.9 million), whose role in Chan Gailey's offense has vanished -- only six offensive snaps in the last two games. Because of Kellen Davis' foot injury, Cumberland could have a prominent role Sunday against the Buffalo Bills, but I don't see him back next year. They'd save the entire $1.9 million.
The position group to watch is the offensive line. It's an aging unit, and I can see general manager Mike Maccagnan making a bold move or two to get younger. D'Brickashaw Ferguson ($14.1 million) and Nick Mangold ($8.6 million) have big numbers, so I could see the front office approaching them about re-working their deals. Breno Giacomini ($5.1 million) could be in some trouble if they draft a tackle in the first two rounds.
Some people might be wondering about Geno Smith ($1.6 million). My response is, what's the rush to get rid of him? He has one year left on his contract, at a reasonable number, and it's not easy to find experienced backups.
