5 contracts holding the NY Jets back right now

2. Laken Tomlinson, OG, NY Jets

Laken Tomlinson is another high-priced veteran who has not lived up to his contract. The Jets signed Tomlinson to a three-year, $40 million contract in the 2022 offseason with the hope that he would serve as an anchor along their offensive line.

Instead, Tomlinson has been a below-average starting guard at best, leading all guards in pressures allowed in 2023. The Jets will have to make a decision on his contract this offseason.

The team can cut Tomlinson and save $8.1 million, but releasing him carries a dead cap charge of $10.74 million. That's a lot of dead money to take on. The other option would be to restructure his contract, pushing dead money into the future.

The Jets would save over $8.5 million by restructuring Tomlinson's contract, and that's probably their most likely option. Either way, Tomlinson's contract is a problem for the Jets.

1. Allen Lazard, WR, NY Jets

Allen Lazard is dangerously close to approaching "worst free-agent signing in Jets history" territory. While he may not be at Trumaine Johnson levels yet, he's in the ballpark.

Lazard was signed to a four-year, $44 million contract last offseason, and he didn't even make it through a full season before being benched. Jets head coach Robert Saleh even publicly alluded to the fact that the team plans to cut him after the 2024 season.

Why then? Unfortunately, the Jets are stuck with Lazard for at least another year. He's set to count over $12 million against the cap in 2024 and will carry significant dead cap hits once he's presumably cut next offseason.

For now, the Jets are stuck paying $12 million to a receiver who was a healthy scratch multiple times last season. That's brutal cap management and a big reason why the Jets don't have more financial flexibility this offseason.