2014 NFL Free Agency: New York Jets- Potential Cuts and Free Agents
Byron Lambert, Rosterwatch.com

The Jets enter the 2014 NFL offseason with an estimated $22M in salary cap space. They have 24 total free agents, including 18 with the unrestricted designation. Of that group- David Garrard (QB), Brady Quinn (QB), Kellen Winslow (TE), and Josh Cribbs (WR)– are the only players of any fantasy relevance.

Extending the contract of stud defensive lineman, Mohamed Wilkerson, will be the Jets biggest priority in the offseason. He enters a contract year in 2014, in which he’s set to make a meager (cough) $2M.

Players who are candidates to either be cut or restructured include:

Antonio Cromartie (CB)– His $15M cap hit is astronomical, and he’s coming off of a down year. The Jets could save almost $10M against the 2014 salary cap by cutting him. With the play of rookie Dee Milliner (CB) still in question- we expect the team to try and restructure Crime-Time first.

Mark Sanchez (QB)– Sanchez and his soccer style hairband are almost certainly gone. Their is no way they are taking a $13M hit on him, and there is no way they are extending him. Cutting Dirty-Mark will free up 8M against the cap.

Santonio Holmes (WR)– When healthy, the former Super Bowl MVP flashed during 2013, but overall appears to be a shell of himself. His 11M cap figure for 2014 is outrageous. He can be cut to save almost $9M against this year’s cap. With the Jets plight at receiver, maybe the team will sniff around a bargain basement restructure.

Clyde Gates (WR), David Nelson (WR), Greg Salas (WR), and Zach Sudfeld (TE) are also all on the roster bubble.

Stephen Hill (WR) will likely get his last chance to emerge in 2014, as his cap figure is only $1.2M, and the team doesn’t stand to save anything significant by cutting him. Expect the Jets to target impact players at the receiver position in the 2014 NFL Draft and during Free Agency.