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Percy Harvin 'definitely' wants to play for Jets in 2015. Should they pay big money to keep him?
on December 12, 2014 at 3:00 PM, updated December 12, 2014 at 3:18 PM
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FLORHAM PARK -- Among the Jets' many offseason decisions -- regarding their quarterback, head coach and general manager, most prominently -- there is also the not-so-small matter about what to do with wide receiver Percy Harvin.
Should the Jets pick up his hefty contract for next season? Or should they try to renegotiate with him? Do they even want him back?
The answer to that last question depends on the Jets' head coach/general manager tandem in 2015, and whether their current GM, John Idzik, is still employed by the organization.
Harvin on Friday answered at least one question about next season. He said he wants to continue playing for the Jets.
"Definitely," he said. "I feel at home here. I'm comfortable with all the players. I like the vibe around here. Absolutely. I just overall love the whole organization."
Of course, this is what you'd expect Harvin to say when asked if he wants to return to the Jets. But he certainly could have dodged the question and said he was only thinking about this week, and wanted to wait until after the season to speak about the future.
Harvin simply saying he wants to play for the Jets in 2015 will not make it so. He has four years remaining on his contract, with base salaries of $10.5, $9.9, $9.95 and $11.15 million due to come his way from 2015-18. None of that money is guaranteed, so the Jets could cut him lose after this season with no future repercussions to their salary cap.
To date, he has given the Jets no glaring reason to definitively say they don't want him around next season. He has performed solidly on the field, and gotten along with his teammates in the locker room -- something that was a concern about Harvin, considering his fights with Seahawks teammates.
The Jets acquired Harvin in an October trade with Seattle, for a modest price, which is why Idzik said the trade could be "a potential coup." If Harvin is on the Jets' roster in 2015, they will give Seattle a fourth-round draft pick. If not, they will send a sixth-rounder to Seattle. It was a low-risk move for Idzik, one that allowed him to essentially have Harvin audition for a 2015 roster spot during the Jets' final nine games.
Harvin has played well, but well enough to earn $10.5 million next year? The average yearly value of Harvin's contract ($12.849 million) currently ranks third among wide receivers. For all his talent, Harvin is not one of the NFL's top three receivers.
He has just one touchdown catch in 2014. He is coming off his best game of the season, last week in Minnesota: six catches for 124 yards and a touchdown. He sprained his ankle in that game, but could still play this Sunday at the Titans.
The 2-11 Jets have three games left for Harvin to show them they ought to keep him. A potential front-office overhaul is a mitigating factor. But it should be clear to anybody making decisions about the Jets' 2015 roster that Harvin provides a much-needed downfield threat, to take coverage attention away from receiver Eric Decker.
How much are the Jets willing to pay Harvin to fill that role? Just seven NFL receivers have contracts with an average yearly value of $10 million or more. Harvin seems extremely unlikely to command $10.5 million for 2015 on the open free agent market. This could help the Jets' chances of seeing him agree to a renegotiated deal.
Though Harvin hasn't put up monster numbers in his time with the Jets (25 catches, 306 yards and one touchdown in six games), he could be an asset to this team next season. Plus, a better quarterback than Geno Smith might help boost Harvin's stats.
For his part, Harvin said he isn't concerning himself with the last three games of his Jets tryout -- his final chances to demonstrate his value to this organization.
"I don't really worry about what's to come or anything like that," he said. "I'm just out here playing hard, and everything will take care of itself."
If Jets owner Woody Johnson opts for a complete shakeup, and fires both coach Rex Ryan and Idzik, the Harvin trade could still end up being a coup, particularly if the Jets get Harvin to lower his salary for 2015. But another general manager would reap the benefits of one of Idzik's wiser moves.
Darryl Slater may be reached at dslater@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @DarrylSlater. Find NJ.com Jets on Facebook.
on December 12, 2014 at 3:00 PM, updated December 12, 2014 at 3:18 PM
FLORHAM PARK -- Among the Jets' many offseason decisions -- regarding their quarterback, head coach and general manager, most prominently -- there is also the not-so-small matter about what to do with wide receiver Percy Harvin.
Should the Jets pick up his hefty contract for next season? Or should they try to renegotiate with him? Do they even want him back?
The answer to that last question depends on the Jets' head coach/general manager tandem in 2015, and whether their current GM, John Idzik, is still employed by the organization.
Harvin on Friday answered at least one question about next season. He said he wants to continue playing for the Jets.
"Definitely," he said. "I feel at home here. I'm comfortable with all the players. I like the vibe around here. Absolutely. I just overall love the whole organization."
Of course, this is what you'd expect Harvin to say when asked if he wants to return to the Jets. But he certainly could have dodged the question and said he was only thinking about this week, and wanted to wait until after the season to speak about the future.
Harvin simply saying he wants to play for the Jets in 2015 will not make it so. He has four years remaining on his contract, with base salaries of $10.5, $9.9, $9.95 and $11.15 million due to come his way from 2015-18. None of that money is guaranteed, so the Jets could cut him lose after this season with no future repercussions to their salary cap.
To date, he has given the Jets no glaring reason to definitively say they don't want him around next season. He has performed solidly on the field, and gotten along with his teammates in the locker room -- something that was a concern about Harvin, considering his fights with Seahawks teammates.
The Jets acquired Harvin in an October trade with Seattle, for a modest price, which is why Idzik said the trade could be "a potential coup." If Harvin is on the Jets' roster in 2015, they will give Seattle a fourth-round draft pick. If not, they will send a sixth-rounder to Seattle. It was a low-risk move for Idzik, one that allowed him to essentially have Harvin audition for a 2015 roster spot during the Jets' final nine games.
Harvin has played well, but well enough to earn $10.5 million next year? The average yearly value of Harvin's contract ($12.849 million) currently ranks third among wide receivers. For all his talent, Harvin is not one of the NFL's top three receivers.
He has just one touchdown catch in 2014. He is coming off his best game of the season, last week in Minnesota: six catches for 124 yards and a touchdown. He sprained his ankle in that game, but could still play this Sunday at the Titans.
The 2-11 Jets have three games left for Harvin to show them they ought to keep him. A potential front-office overhaul is a mitigating factor. But it should be clear to anybody making decisions about the Jets' 2015 roster that Harvin provides a much-needed downfield threat, to take coverage attention away from receiver Eric Decker.
How much are the Jets willing to pay Harvin to fill that role? Just seven NFL receivers have contracts with an average yearly value of $10 million or more. Harvin seems extremely unlikely to command $10.5 million for 2015 on the open free agent market. This could help the Jets' chances of seeing him agree to a renegotiated deal.
Though Harvin hasn't put up monster numbers in his time with the Jets (25 catches, 306 yards and one touchdown in six games), he could be an asset to this team next season. Plus, a better quarterback than Geno Smith might help boost Harvin's stats.
For his part, Harvin said he isn't concerning himself with the last three games of his Jets tryout -- his final chances to demonstrate his value to this organization.
"I don't really worry about what's to come or anything like that," he said. "I'm just out here playing hard, and everything will take care of itself."
If Jets owner Woody Johnson opts for a complete shakeup, and fires both coach Rex Ryan and Idzik, the Harvin trade could still end up being a coup, particularly if the Jets get Harvin to lower his salary for 2015. But another general manager would reap the benefits of one of Idzik's wiser moves.
Darryl Slater may be reached at dslater@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @DarrylSlater. Find NJ.com Jets on Facebook.
