New York Jets re-sign tight end Ryan Griffin to three-year extension

The New York Jets have announced that they’ve re-signed tight end Ryan Griffin to a three-year extension to keep him in New York for the foreseeable future.

The New York Jets have dealt with their fair share of disappointment this season, but one player who has overachieved has been tight end Ryan Griffin. And it appears as though the franchise has rewarded him for his unexpected success.

The Jets announced late Saturday night that they had officially re-signed the veteran tight end to a three-year extension worth up to $10.8 million with incentives. On top of that, Griffin will be given $4 million in guarantees.

Griffin was signed by the Jets back in July after he spent the first six seasons of his career with the Houston Texans. While never a star, Griffin was a reliable contributor with the Texans and he came over to New York with plenty of starting experience.

And that alone was invaluable to a Jets team looking for a replacement for Chris Herndon who was due to miss the first four games of the season serving his suspension.

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Griffin won the job in preseason over the likes of Daniel Brown, Trevon Wesco, and Eric Tomlinson and he’s started all 10 games for the team this season. In those 10 games, Griffin has amassed 269 yards and four touchdowns on 25 catches.

But the former sixth-round pick has really come alive in recent weeks emerging as a favorite target of quarterback Sam Darnold. Griffin has totaled at least 50 receiving yards in three of the last four weeks including a career-high 109 yards on five catches this past week.

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Incredibly, it was the first 100-yard day from a Jets tight end since Dustin Keller accomplished the feat back in 2011. Given the fact that Herndon’s four-game suspension turned into a season-long absence, the Jets are certainly counting their blessings that they have Griffin right now.

Griffin is the second Jets player to be re-signed midseason as veteran nose tackle Steve McLendon was handed an extension from the team a little over a month ago. Much like McLendon, Griffin is an underrated piece of the roster puzzle.

When Herndon finally returns next season, the Jets will now have a very solid duo of tight ends to play with. Expect the team to use more two-tight-end sets to make use of their talent at the position.

Griffin has been an integral part of the offense this season and while his role may be diminished next season, expect the 29-year-old to continue to have some sort of a role in the gameplan.

A well-deserved extension for an unheralded player.