3 potential post-June 1st cuts the NY Jets could target

3. The NY Jets could target Kevin Byard

Kevin Byard, currently under contract with the Tennessee Titans as a free safety, refused to take a pay cut earlier this year. He has always expressed interest in retiring as a Titan, but with the teams' shift to a more "rebuilding" phase, and the still-possible trades of Ryan Tannehill and Derrick Henry, Byard could change his mind.

The money with Byard is a little tricky, as he is owed $13.6 million in each of the next two years, with over $20 million in dead money on the books if he was to be cut. Hence, the team wanted Byard to agree to a pay cut and a new contract.

With that in mind, it is unlikely that the team outright cuts Byard unless they decide to fully rebuild. If Tannehill and/or Henry are moved elsewhere, it could trigger Byard to demand out and refuse to show up. Even though the savings would be minimal, any boost over the next two years in salary cap would be helpful to Tennessee.

Byard fits the Jets' mold well. He would immediately address maybe the biggest hole on the roster by filling into the starting free safety position as an All-Pro at the position. With almost 200 tackles and nine interceptions across the last two seasons, he would be an impact player from day one.

A more likely scenario might be that Tannehill and/or Henry are moved, followed by the Jets trading for Byard to fill the gap at free safety. A late-round pick for an older (and expensive) safety might do the trick to get over $25 million off the books for Tennessee.

I've been a strong advocate for the Jets to add Byard since the start of the offseason, and I still think the move makes sense for all parties.