5 NY Jets players most likely to have their contracts restructured this spring

4. D.J. Reed, CB, NY Jets

D.J. Reed isn't going anywhere. The former San Francisco 49ers draft pick remains an integral part of the Jets' defense and is one of the biggest reasons the team's secondary is as dominant as it is. Without Reed, there is no star Jets cornerback trio.

Still, it might make sense for the Jets to find a way to lower his $9.32 million cap hit in 2024. While that figure is undoubtedly a bargain for Reed at this stage, the Jets will be looking to free up as much space as they can.

Restructuring Reed would create an extra $7 million in cap space for the Jets this season. There is another, perhaps more appealing, route the team could take as well.

It might make sense for the Jets to explore an extension for Reed, who is entering the final year of his deal. Extending Reed would create $7.5 million in cap space in 2024 and would lock up an important part of the Jets' defense for the next few years. At only 27 years old, it's probably worth it.

3. Laken Tomlinson, OG, NY Jets

The Jets are likely going to do something with Laken Tomlinson's contract this offseason. The former Pro Bowl offensive guard is due to have a 2024 cap hit of $18.88 million, which ranks as the third-highest on the team.

Not only has his production not matched that figure, but it's also an extremely high number for a player whose contract is pretty flexible. The Jets could simply release Tomlinson and save $8.14 million, but doing so would also incur a dead cap hit of over $10 million.

The safe bet is to assume Tomlinson sticks around as a starter in 2024. The Jets value his leadership and durability, even if his on-field play has been lackluster, to say the least.

That could lead the Jets to restructure Tomlinson's contract, which would create $8.54 million in cap space. While a straight-up release is not out of the question, it's more likely the Jets lower Tomlinson's cap hit via a restructure.