NY Jets want Jamison Crowder to take 50 percent pay cut

The NY Jets remain in somewhat of a contract stand-off with wide receiver Jamison Crowder as we approach mandatory minicamp this week.

The Jets want Crowder, who possesses a cap hit of roughly $11 million in 2021, to take a pay cut. How much of a pay cut? Per ESPN's Rich Cimini, the Jets are asking Crowder to take a pay cut of "at least 50 percent" to stay on the team.

This comes after Crowder missed voluntary OTAs as he continued to discuss his contract situation with general manager Joe Douglas and the Jets' front office.

For the moment, it's a game of financial chicken. But things are set to come to a head very soon.

The NY Jets have all the leverage in the Jamison Crowder situation

Crowder missing OTAs wasn't exactly a huge story as plenty of players don't attend for various reasons. But head coach Robert Saleh said last week that he expects 100 percent attendance when the team reconvenes for mandatory minicamp.

Mandatory minicamp begins on June 15th. Also known as tomorrow. If Crowder doesn't show up, this will become a bit of a bigger story.

Crowder has been the Jets' most productive wide receiver in each of the last two seasons and one of the lone bright spots on an otherwise abysmal offense.

But he'll enter the 2021 season on the final year of his deal, with just $1 million in guarantees, and his replacement already on the roster. Not to mention that, for as good as Crowder is, he just isn't worth what he's due to make this season.

Crowder's $11.35 million cap hit in 2021 is the 15th highest at the wide receiver position. It's hard to argue that he's worth that much to the Jets, especially with Elijah Moore already shining this spring.

And therein lies the Jets' issue. Unfortunately for Crowder, he doesn't have a ton of leverage to combat the team's request.

The Jets could theoretically cut Crowder with just $1 million in dead cap. And if that happens, it's unlikely he makes any more than $4 or 5 million at most on the open market.

If the Jets are, indeed, asking Crowder to take a pay cut of 50 percent, his salary could come down to somewhere around $5.7 million. That's likely more than he would make if he were to sign on with another team.

However, you also have to consider that Crowder might be willing to take his chances under the assumption that he'll have a larger role with whatever team he signs with.

Moore is already pushing for playing time over Crowder and it's unlikely the latter has nearly as significant of a role in the offense as he has the last two years.

It's not always about money. Sometimes it's about opportunity.

Perhaps the Jets are overplaying their hand and asking Crowder to take too much of a pay cut. Or perhaps they're rightfully taking advantage of their leverage in an effort to save as much money as possible.

Whatever the case may be, there should be a resolution very soon.