The Jets knew they needed help at the punter position after Braden Mann took a step back in 2022. So they went out and brought back a familiar face and made sure they gave themselves the best chance to do.
In his conversation with Paul Edsen of Heavy on Jets, new Jets punter Thomas Morstead said the Jets’ contract offer “felt aggressive”.
Via Edsen:
“I think No. 1, it wasn’t so much about how much I was getting paid, I mean I signed the veteran salary benefit contract. [That] is below my market, but they guaranteed the whole thing. They basically said we want you back and we’re committing to you for this season. That is a tremendous offer [and] there’s probably not too many guys that are on the veteran salary benefit that are getting the whole thing guaranteed.
It felt aggressive in a way, even though it’s the minimum they can pay me but it’s a commitment [for] the entire year. This was just an aggressive thing to do. They just said look we really want you and we’re putting our money where our mouth is in the form of guarantees.”
The Jets gave Morstead a one-year deal worth $1,317,500 with $1,092,500 guaranteed. Morstead spent part of 2021 with the Jets before punting for the Dolphins in 2022.
You can check out the full interview here.