Lucky Whitehead signing means the end for Jalin Marshall

The New York Jets have claimed former Dallas Cowboys wide receiver Lucky Whitehead off of waivers, and he’s a good fit for the team.

The New York Jets claiming wide receiver Lucky Whitehead is a smart move but actually not a good sign for current wide receiver Jalin Marshall. Marshall and Whitehead can provide similar production for the Jets.

In two seasons with the Cowboys, Whitehead averaged 6.9 yards per punt return and 25.6 yards per kickoff return. However, as a receiver, Marshall has 11.6 yards per reception which is four yards more than Whitehead.

With that said, Whitehead also gave the Cowboys a third rusher to keep Ezekiel Elliott fresh. He averaged 9.2 yards per carry.

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Marshall may be in his second season, but he will be suspended for the first four games of the season for violating the NFL Substance Abuse Policy.

The problem with that is that it’s not a one-strike system. He had to fail multiple times to be suspended, which shows a lack of awareness.

Another problem for Marshall is that he’s on his rookie deal. According to Over the Cap, the Jets would save a total of $1,167, 336 in cap space for the next two seasons if they cut him. They will also incur only $7,998 in dead cap.

According to the Marc Lillibridge’s piece on Bleacher Report, The Anatomy of a 53-Man Roster in the NFL, typically a team will only employ six wide receivers on an active roster, and only five will suit up on game day. Including Whitehead, the Jets have 15 wide receivers on their training camp roster.

It’s safe to assume that five of the fifteen have roster spots already. Robby Anderson, Quincy Enunwa, Chad Hansen, Charone Peake, and ArDarius Stewart are the likely candidates. That leaves 10 guys vying for one spot, and with a suspension over your head, it may be tough to sell keeping him. It’s going to take until September 2, but the Jets will cut Marshall as it’s the writing on the wall.

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