The New York Jets re-signed kicker Greg Zuerlein to a two-year deal worth $8.4 million. The Athletic’s Zack Rosenblatt has those contract details.
Of the $8.4 million that can be earned, $4.2 million of that will be guaranteed with $2.89 million being paid in the form of a signing bonus. For Zuerlein, the signing bonus is money that he will receive up front. Zuerlein can also earn $200,000 in per game roster bonuses—or $100,000 each season.
In 2024, Zuerlein’s cap hit will be $2.755 million and then $5.645 million in 2025, with the contract backloaded.
In terms of Zuerlein’s $4.2 million per year average value, that ranks 11th among all kickers in 2024. The $4.2 million portion of his contract that will be guaranteed ranks 13th, according to Over the Cap.
Zuerlein put together one of his best seasons to date in 2023, making 15-of-16 extra point attempts and 35-of-38 field goal attempts, which included making 18-of-20 from 40-plus yards. Overall, that averages out to a make rate of 92.1 percent. Compared to the previous three seasons, Zuerlein made about 82 percent of his attempts during that span.
With Zuerlein’s deal factored into the equation, the Jets now have $18.7 million in available cap space. However, what that figure does not include are the one-year deals for Chuck Clark, Isaiah Oliver, and Kenny Yeboah, all of whom were reportedly signed over the last day.
That $18.7 million figure also doesn’t factor in upcoming expenses such as signing the incoming draft class, which will take up about $10.9 million in cap space or assembling the practice squad, among other regular operating cap expenses.
In short, the Jets are going to have to create more cap space than what they have available to them at the moment. How much remains to be seen and depends on how aggressive they plan to be in free agency.
Right now, the guard market, in particular, is booming with big deals, while the tackle market and receiver markets haven’t had a ton of movement yet.
Along the offensive line, whether it be through free agency or the draft, the Jets have to add three starters to join Joe Tippmann and Alijah Vera-Tucker. They also need to add to the receiver room, along with building depth at safety and the interior defensive line.
Cap-creating moves that the Jets have at their disposal still include restructuring the contracts of CJ Mosley, Quinnen Williams, John Franklin-Myers, Allen Lazard, and Quincy Williams. They could also extend Tyler Conklin or DJ Reed to free up cap space. For more on the Jets’ cap situation, click here.