Jets general manager Darren Mougey said Monday that the team intends to exercise the fifth-year options of Johnson (Achilles), Garrett Wilson and Sauce Gardner (hamstring), Ian Rapoport of NFL Network reports.
Johnson is working his way back from a right Achilles tear suffered Week 2 of the 2024 season, and he said in February that his recovery remains on track and he expects to be ready for the start of OTAs in spring, per John Flanigan of SNY.com. Having their fifth-year options exercised will keep all of Johnson, Wilson and Gardner in New York on their rookie deals through the 2026 campaign.
... See More... See Less
Jets' Sauce Gardner: Will receive fifth-year option
Rotowire
Jets general manager Darren Mougey said Monday that the team intends to exercise the fifth-year options of Gardner (hamstring), Garrett Wilson and Jermaine Johnson (Achilles), Ian Rapoport of NFL Network reports.
Gardner, Wilson and Johnson were all selected by New York in the first round of the 2022 NFL Draft, and the Jets plan to extend all of their rookie contracts through 2026. The No. 4 overall pick of that draft year, Gardner's guaranteed base salary in 2026 will project at $20.1 million guaranteed, though he will work to negotiate a long-term extension before then. A hamstring injury forced Gardner to spend the final game of the 2024 regular season on IR, but he projects to be fully ready for the start of mandatory offseason activities.
... See More... See Less
Jets' Tony Adams: Officially back with Jets
Rotowire
Adams signed his restricted free-agent tender with the Jets on Friday, Aaron Wilson of KPRC 2 Houston reports.
Adams will return to the Jets on a one-year contract, which the team offered him in March. He has appeared in 30 games over the past two seasons, starting all but four of those while compiling 166 tackles and 11 passes defensed over that span. Adams can tentatively be penciled in as the starting strong safety heading into 2025, though the Jets could still add competition via the draft or free agency.
... See More... See Less
Raiders' Leki Fotu: Going to Vegas
Rotowire
Fotu signed with the Raiders on Monday, Tom Pelissero of NFL Network reports.
The rotational defensive tackle played in just two games for the Jets in 2024, missing the first five with a hamstring injury and the last 10 with a knee issue. The 2020 fourth-round pick of the Cardinals spent his first four seasons with Arizona, recording a career high 31 tackles in 2022 and a career high 2.5 sacks in 2023. Fotu should have a chance to compete for a role in 2025 with the Raiders.
... See More... See Less
Steelers' Brandin Echols: Lands deal with Pittsburgh
Rotowire
Echols and the Steelers agreed on a two-year contract Friday, Teresa Varley of the team's official site reports.
Echols spent the first four seasons of his career with the Jets, tallying 121 tackles, 16 defensed passes (including five interceptions, two of which were returned for a TD) and one fumble recovery over 57 regular-season games. He was used mostly in a rotational role last season, starting in just four of 16 contests while also working as a core special-teamer. Darius Slay and Joey Porter are slated to start at outside cornerback for Pittsburgh next year, so Echols could work behind that pair or compete to start in the slot.
... See More... See Less
Jets' Byron Cowart: Signed by Gang Green
Rotowire
Cowart signed a contract with the Jets on Thursday, Rich Cimini of ESPN.com reports.
After spending the entire 2023 season on the Jets' practice squad, Cowart played in 15 regular-season games (including seven starts) for the Bears in 2024 and finished with 26 tackles (14 solo), including a career-high 2.5 sacks. Cowart will use the offseason and training camp to compete for the second starting job at defensive tackle next to Quinnen Williams.
... See More... See Less
Jets' Jamin Davis: Re-signs with New York
Rotowire
Davis agreed to a one-year deal with the Jets on Thursday, Jordan Schultz of Fox Sports reports.
Davis was claimed off waivers by New York in late December and did not appear in a game. The 26-year-old linebacker bounced around the league last year, joining the Vikings after being released by the Commanders earlier in the season. The 2021 first-round pick has hardly played to his draft status thus far and will likely serve as a special teams player for new head coach Aaron Glenn in 2025.
... See More... See Less
C.J. Mosley: Let go by Jets
Rotowire
The Jets released Mosley (neck) on Wednesday.
Per Rich Cimini of ESPN.com, Mosley will be designated as a post-June 1 cut in order to spread out that cap hit that comes with his release. In doing so, the Jets clear $4 million in cap space for 2025 while taking on $8.784 million in dead money. Mosley battled neck and toe issues last season, limiting him to parts of just four games. He played in all 17 regular-season games each of the previous two seasons and was selected to the Pro Bowl and named a second-team All-Pro as recently as 2022. He turns 33 years old in June. It's unclear how much Mosley's body has left to give to football.
... See More... See Less
Jets' Isaiah Oliver: Re-signing with Gang Green
Rotowire
The Jets agreed to terms on a contract with Oliver on Wednesday, Tom Pelissero of NFL Network reports.
The details of the deal have yet to be announced, but Oliver will play for the Jets at least for the 2025 campaign. He played in all 17 regular-season games for the Jets in 2024 (including seven starts) and finished with 57 tackles (15 solo), including 1.0 sacks, and three pass defenses. The veteran corner figures to play a prominent role in the Jets' secondary for the 2025 season.
... See More... See Less
Dolphins' Ashtyn Davis: Heading to Miami
Rotowire
Davis is slated to sign with the Dolphins, Jordan Schultz of Fox Sports reports.
Davis saw his production slightly dip in 2024, finishing the regular season with 35 tackles (25 solo) and two interceptions across 15 regular-season games. He split his time between defense and special teams last season, but he would have a shot at a starting role in Miami if Jordan Poyer opts to sign elsewhere in free agency.
... See More... See Less
Cowboys' Solomon Thomas: Agrees to deal with Dallas
Rotowire
The Cowboys are in line to sign Thomas to a two-year contract worth up to $8 million, Adam Schefter of ESPN reports.
Thomas is coming off three consecutive productive seasons with the Jets, with 26 total tackles (15 solo), including 3.5 sacks, plus two passes defended and one forced fumble across 16 regular-season appearances in 2024. His arrival in Dallas will bolster the team's interior defensive line, a unit headlined by the recently extended Osa Odighizuwa and 2023 first-rounder Mazi Smith.
... See More... See Less
Jets' Tony Adams: Receives tender
Rotowire
Adams was tendered by the Jets on Monday, Ethan Greenberg of the team's official site reports.
Adams appeared in 15 games (11 starts) for the Jets in 2024, recording career highs in total tackles (84), sacks (1.0) and passes defended (six). After placing a tender on Adams, the Jets have the right to match any offer he receives in free agency. The 26-year-old from Illinois is now likely to return to New York and compete for a starting safety role throughout the offseason.
... See More... See Less
Lions' D.J. Reed: Getting fitted for Honolulu Blue
Rotowire
Detroit will sign Reed to a three-year, $48 million contract, Jordan Schultz of Fox Sports reports.
Reed is coming off of a solid season with the Jets in which he logged 11 passes defensed and 64 tackles (52 solo) over 14 games, and now he's being brought in to reinforce what was a weak passing defense in 2024. He projects to start alongside 2023 second-rounder Brian Branch in 2025.
... See More... See Less
Commanders' Javon Kinlaw: Going to nation's capital
Rotowire
The Commanders are in line to sign Kinlaw to a three-year, $45 million contract, Adam Schefter of ESPN reports.
Kinlaw posted career-high marks across the board while starting all 17 regular-season games with the Jets in 2024, totaling 40 tackles (27 solo), including 4.5 sacks, plus two forced fumbles and a fumble recovery. He'll form a formidable interior tandem alongside Daron Payne (knee) in Washington, with 2024 second-rounder Jer'Zhan Newton also on hand to contribute after a solid rookie campaign.
... See More... See Less
Buccaneers' Haason Reddick: Heading to Tampa Bay
Rotowire
The Buccaneers are in line to sign Reddick to a one-year, $14 million contract, Ian Rapoport of NFL Network reports.
Reddick is coming off a down season with the Jets in which after staging a holdout he racked up just 14 tackles (nine solo), including 1.0 sacks, one pass defensed and one forced fumble across 10 appearances. Tampa Bay appears confident in Reddick's ability to bounce back, however. Prior to his disappointing 2024 campaign, Reddick had put together four consecutive seasons with double-digit sacks.
... See More... See Less
Jets' Jamien Sherwood: Signs new deal with New York
Rotowire
Sherwood and the Jets agreed on a three-year, $45 million contract with $30 million fully guaranteed Sunday, Adam Schefter of ESPN reports.
Sherwood will stick around New York after spending the first four years of his career with the Jets, most recently compiling a career-high 158 total tackles (98 solo), including 2.0 sacks, over 17 regular-season games in 2024. With fellow middle linebacker C.J. Mosley (neck) expected to return in 2025 after missing 13 games in 2024, Sherwood may see a dip in production following his impressive year.
... See More... See Less
Jets' Haason Reddick: Underperforms with Jets
Rotowire
Reddick tallied 14 total tackles (nine solo), including 1.0 sacks, defended one pass and forced one fumble over 10 games in 2024.
Reddick's first season in New York didn't go according to plan, as he was traded from the Eagles to the Jets in late March due to a contract dispute. He then held out of the Jets' training camp and the first seven games of the season while negotiating an extension with his new team. The Temple product underwhelmed upon his return in 2024, recording the fewest tackles and tying the lowest sack total of his career. Now set to hit unrestricted free agency this summer, Reddick likely cost himself significant earnings by holding out and underperforming in 2024. He will aim to return to his usual form as one of the NFL's top edge rushers in 2025, whether he remains with the Jets or signs elsewhere.
... See More... See Less
Jets' C.J. Mosley: Injuries derail 2024 campaign
Rotowire
Mosley (neck) recorded 17 total tackles (13 solo) over four games in 2024.
Mosley sustained a toe injury in the Jets' Week 1 loss to the 49ers that sidelined him for three of the team's next six games. He was limited in the games he did play as well, logging just 43 defensive snaps across those three contests. The veteran linebacker then suffered a neck injury during pregame warmups before the Week 8 matchup against the Patriots, which led to him being sidelined for the remainder of the season. Mosley remains under contract through the 2025 season, so he's expected to stay with the Jets. The 32-year-old has averaged 156 total tackles in his last three full NFL seasons and is projected to serve as one of the Jets' top inside linebackers next year once he's recovers from his neck injury.
... See More... See Less
Jets' Michael Carter: Misses four games in 2024
Rotowire
Carter recorded 24 total tackles (20 solo) and one pass defended over 13 games in 2024.
Carter nursed a back injury for most of the regular season, which sidelined him for four games. Additionally, Carter played 384 fewer defensive snaps (647 snaps in 2023 compared to 263 in 2024) and made five fewer starts (six starts in 2023 to one in 2024), contributing to an immense decline in tackles (26 fewer) and passes defended (eight fewer) in 2024. The Duke product inked a three-year, $30.75 million extension with the Jets in September of 2024 and is under contract through the 2027 season. He's expected to remain one of the Jets' top slot defenders in 2025.
... See More... See Less
Jets' Solomon Thomas: Productive in 2024
Rotowire
Thomas tallied 26 total tackles (15 solo), including 3.5 sacks, two passes defended and one forced fumble over 16 games in 2024.
Despite starting just one game in 2024, Thomas was relatively productive, playing 430 defensive snaps and ranking fifth on the Jets' defense in tackles for loss (five) and sacks. While his tackle (31 to 26) and sack (5.0 to 3.5) totals declined from his 2023 campaign, he played 36 fewer defensive snaps this season and recorded more passes defended (two to one) and forced fumbles (one to zero) than in 2023. Thomas is now set to become an unrestricted free agent this summer after signing a one-year, $2.35 million deal with the Jets last offseason. If he remains with New York in 2025, he's likely to serve as one of the team's top reserve defensive linemen.
