Robert Saleh: ‘When we win football games all the narratives will change’

“We’ve got to win football games and when we win football games all the narratives will change.”

Jets head coach Robert Saleh knows all the noise outside the organization and about the organization. There was a lot of hype surrounding the team following their acquisition of quarterback Aaron Rodgers. That hype included an appearance on HBO’s “Hard Knocks”, which felt more like it should have been titled “Aaron Rodgers and Friends”

All that hype quickly evaporated when Rodgers suffered a torn Achilles just four plays into his Jets’ debut against the Buffalo Bills. As more injuries piled up and the offense majorly struggled, the Jets limped to another 7-10 finish on the season.

Saleh knows his team has to start winning football games, rather than just winning the offseason and only then will the talk about the team change.

“When you lose, you’re a loser,” Saleh said, via ESPN’s Rich Cimini. “I suck, [GM Joe Douglas] sucks, we all suck. It goes with the territory, but the best thing we can do is put our heads down and … go to work. All the feel-good stuff for the offseason doesn’t matter. We’ve got to win football games, and when we win football games all the narratives will change.”

The very lesst of goals this season for the Jets is to secure their first winning season since 2015 when they finished 10-6. A bigger goal is ending a 13-season postseason drought. An even bigger goal would be to win their first division title since 2002. Ultimately, the Jets want to be in New Orleans next February for Super Bowl LIX.

The Jets have done all they can in recent weeks to build an offense that can lessen the pressure on their defense and allow Aaron Rodgers to thrive in New York. The Jets added Tyron Smith, John Simpson and Morgan Moses on the offensive line and signed former Chargers wide receiver Mike Williams to pair with Garrett Wilson.

Understandably, the narrative surrounding the Jets is something along the lines of “We’ll believe it when we see it.” The Jets have put themselves in a position to make people believes in them, but we’ve also been down this road before. Results have to happen now.

Robert Saleh says plan is for Alijah Vera-Tucker to play right guard

The Jets want to keep Alijah Vera-Tucker at right guard this season.

The Jets had previously said this offseason that the plan was to keep Alijah Vera-Tucker in one spot on the offensive line this season instead of bouncing him around, as they have in the past due to injuries.

At the Annual League Meeting this week in Orlando, Florida, head coach Robert Saleh confirmed the plan for Vera-Tucker is to keep him at right guard.

This became expected after the Jets traded for right tackle Morgan Moses from the Baltimore Ravens then followed that up by signing former Cowboys left tackle Tyron Smith. With the team also signing free-agent guard John Simpson to replace the released Laken Tomlinson, right guard became the logical spot for Vera-Tucker.

The Jets want to increase the chances of keeping Vera-Tucker healthy. He has suffered season-ending triceps and Achilles injuries over the past two seasons, causing him to miss a total of 22 games. The Jets also have to decide on Vera-Tucker’s fifth-year option this offseason, an option that, if picked up, would guarantee Vera-Tucker a projected $15.3 million for 2025.

Saleh also mentioned the Jets plan to adjust how they handle the offensive line during the spring and summer as another way to try and prevent injuries.

Given all the bad luck the Jets have had with offensive line injuries over the last two seasons, and given how much pressure there is on the team this season, the Jets need all the healthy linemen they can get, including and especially Vera-Tucker.

Bryce Huff ‘for sure’ biggest free-agency loss Robert Saleh has had

Losing Bryce Huff stings for Robert Saleh

The Jets have added pieces this offseason in the hopes of building up the roster for a big push this season. But the offseason started with a blow when the Jets lost their sack leader from 2023, Bryce Huff, in free agency to the Philadelphia Eagles.

When asked Monday at the Annual League Meeting in Orlando if Huff was the toughest free-agent loss the Jets have had under Saleh, he replied, “for sure.”

Saleh had an interesting quote on Huff, comparing him to legendary New York Yankees closer Mariano Rivera. “Elite pass rusher,” said Saleh about Huff. “Closes games. People want to say that all he does is rush the passer, but all Mariano Rivera did was close ninth innings.”

Saleh added: “He’s a pretty darn good pass rusher and he’s going to be great for Philadelphia.” Huff signed a three-year, $51 million contract with the Eagles, the highest ever for an undrafted non-quarterback.

The Jets have been eyeing former No. 1 pick Jadeveon Clowney as a potential replacement for Huff and are reportedly “highly motivated” to get a deal done with Clowney, who tied a career high with 9.5 sacks last season for the Ravens.

The Jets are also hoping 2023 first-round pick Will McDonald takes a step forward in his second season after playing limited snaps as a rookie. Jermaine Johnson will continue to lead the way and Micheal Clemons will mix in the rotation more as well.

Mike Williams to count less than $6 million against salary cap for 2024

Mike Williams estimated to count less than $6 million against salary cap for 2024

The Jets and general manager Joe Douglas have become big fans of void years lately. The latest example comes from their contract for their new wide receiver Mike Williams.

It was reported earlier Saturday that Williams signed a one-year deal worth $10 million that could become $15 million via incentives from receiving yards, receptions and touchdowns.

Over the Cap is currently estimating that the team added four void years to Williams’ contract to spread out the cap hit of Williams’ $3.3 million signing bonus. That means just $660,000 gets charged for 2024. Over the Cap is likely estimating that three of the 17 games for the per-game roster bonus of $1.7 million is “likely to be earned”, as that is how many games Williams played last season before his ACL injury.

As a result, that would only charge $300,000 against the cap in 2024 and anything after that would be charged to the 2025 salary cap. Using that, Williams’ cap number for 2024 would come to just $5.96 million. He’ll leave at least $2.64 million in dead money for 2025 plus any other additional charges that the Jets would incur if they happen.

Overall, a small risk for a potential big reward with Williams and another example of the Jets placing all their eggs into the 2024 basket.

Report: Jets ‘highly motivated’ to secure deal with Jadeveon Clowney

The Jets seem very determined to get Jadeveon Clowney on their team.

The Jets recently met with free-agent edge-rusher Jadeveon Clowney and the team seems very determined to get a deal done with the former No. 1 pick.

According to Jordan Schultz of Bleacher Report, the Jets and Clowney have remained “in constant contact” and a source told Schultz the Jets are “highly motivated” to try and secure a deal with Clowney.

The Jets do have competition for Clowney’s services. Schultz reports the Baltimore Ravens and Carolina Panthers are also interested in Clowney, who tied a career-high 9.5 sacks last season for the Ravens. Clowney appeared in all 17 games during the regular season, with 15 starts, and also started both playoff games for the Ravens. It was his first time playing a full season since 2017 with the Houston Texans, a season in which he also recorded 9.5 sacks.

Clowney has reached at least nine sacks in four of the last seven seasons, doing so for the Texans, Browns and Ravens. Clowney has also spent time with the Seahawks (2019) and Titans (2020).

The Jets would love to land Clowney to help fill the void left from the loss of Bryce Huff and his ten sacks to the Philadelphia Eagles in free agency. The Jets are hovering around $8.5 million in cap space, per Over the Cap, though that number doesn’t yet reflect the contract of re-signed defensive tackle Solomon Thomas. Chances are, if the Jets sign Clowney, they will use void years to lessen the cap hit, as they have with Tyron Smith and Mike Williams.

New Dolphins DE Shaq Barrett thought he was landing with Jets

It was New York all the way for Shaq Barrett…until it wasn’t.

The Jets have a hole to fill in the defensive end rotation after losing 2023 sack leader Bryce Huff to the Philadelphia Eagles in free agency. The team thought they had found a potential replacement later in free agency before a division rival scooped him up from under their nose.

Shaq Barrett, formerly of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, told Zach Gelb on CBS Sports Radio he felt very sure he was landing with the Jets in free agency before the Miami Dolphins swooped in and snatched him up.

“My agent was talking to me about potentially going to New York and it was New York all the way up until…the day I ended up agreeing to terms with the Dolphins and they came out of left field,” Barrett said.

“I loved the prospect of going to New York but the Dolphins, they’re just more established as a team, they’re more proven at this point and they got some good guys in my pass-rush room, so I was looking forward to partnering up with those guys.”

Barrett also mentioned the lack of state tax in Florida as a reason he quickly shifted to the Dolphins.

While Barrett’s sack numbers are down in comparison to other years — Barrett has sack totals of 8, 10, 3 and 4.5 in the four seasons since his 19.5-sack season in 2019 — he will still provide a good rotational piece for Miami and would have done the same for New York had he joined the Jets. Barrett also recorded at least 50 tackles in four of his five seasons with the Buccaneers.

The Jets are currently rolling with a rotation of Jermaine Johnson, Micheal Clemons and Will McDonald among others at the position but are still in the mix to sign Jadeveon Clowney, who had 9.5 in 2023 for the Baltimore Ravens.

Jets schedule pre-draft visit with Florida State QB Jordan Travis

The Jets will at least do their due diligence on Florida State quarterback Jordan Travis.

The Jets have their top two quarterbacks set for the 2024 season with Aaron Rodgers and Tyrod Taylor. But drafting a developmental quarterback on day three may not be out of the question. According to a recent report, the Jets will be doing their due diligence on a potential Heisman Trophy candidate before his injury.

Per Logan Robinson of SI FanNation’s NoleGameday, the Jets have scheduled a pre-draft visit with Florida State quarterback Jordan Travis in the coming weeks.

Travis was a candidate for the Heisman Trophy with 2,756 passing yards, 20 touchdowns and just two interceptions in 11 games for the undefeated Seminoles before his season-ending leg injury. He still finished 5th in voting for the award.

Travis should be good to go for the season and the possibility of the Jets taking Travis on the third day of the draft should at least be considered. The Jets could bring him along as he recovers from the leg injury and there would be no pressure to rush him back with Rodgers and Taylor in the mix. It will be interesting to see, in general, if the Jets choose to draft a quarterback late, but if they do, Travis would be a very intriguing prospect.

Report: Jets are ‘highly motivated’ to sign edge rusher Jadeveon Clowney

The New York Jets have an intense interest in signing Ravens free agent pass rusher Jadeveon Clowney, according to Jordan Schultz

The New York Jets have retooled their offensive line, and they’re now looking to add a premier pass rusher to an already stout defense.

Jadeveon Clowney just visited the AFC hopefuls, and the Jets are “highly motivated” to finalize a deal, according to Jordan Schultz of Bleacher Report.

A native of Rock Hill, South Carolina, Clowney starred in Columbia with the Gamecocks before becoming a consensus All-American and the No. 1 overall pick in the 2014 NFL draft.

With the Ravens in 2023, he ranked fifth in pass-rush win rate among edge rushers. He tied his career high of 9.5 sacks and had 50 quarterback hurries, 10 quarterback hits and 69 quarterback pressures.

He had career highs in pressure rate, pass-rush win rate and total pressures in a season.

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Report: Jets, free-agent OLB Jadeveon Clowney have ‘remained in constant contact’

The Jets may be looking to swoop in on another Panthers free-agent target.

The New York Jets may be primed to swoop in on another Carolina Panthers free-agent target.

According to Bleacher Report NFL insider Jordan Schultz, the Jets and outside linebacker Jadeveon Clowney have “remained in constant contact” following their meeting from this past week. Schultz also notes that while New York is “highly motivated” to sign the three-time Pro Bowler, the Panthers and Baltimore Ravens have maintained interest in deals of their own.

Clowney visited the Panthers back on March 14. The 31-year-old Rock Hill, S.C. native is coming off a productive 2023 campaign in Baltimore, where he posted 9.5 sacks and a career-high 71 pressures.

Since his visit, Carolina has signed fellow free-agent pass rushers D.J. Wonnum and K’Lavon Chaisson. They also expressed interest in former No. 2 overall pick Chase Young, who was ultimately scooped up by the NFC South rival New Orleans Saints.

In addition to Clowney, the Jets were in pursuit of wide receiver Mike Williams—who the Panthers met with as well. That pursuit proved to be a successful one, as Williams agreed to a one-year contract with New York.

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Contract details for new Jets wide receiver Mike Williams

Contract details for new Jets wide receiver Mike Williams

New Jets wide receiver Mike Williams is getting a one-year, $10 million contract for this season, per Albert Breer of Sports Illustrated.

The deal includes a $3.3 million signing bonus and $8.3 million guaranteed. The deal also includes $5 million in incentives, which include receptions, receiving yards and touchdowns.

Williams gets a $5 million base salary and $1.7 million in per-game roster bonuses ($100,000 per game).

So in total, Williams can make as much as $15 million, of which $8.3 million is guaranteed, as mentioned earlier, and $6.7 million can be earned via health and production.

The Jets signed Williams earlier this week after Williams was a cap casualty of the Los Angeles Chargers as the team needed to get under the salary cap before the start of the league year March 13. Williams is also returning from a torn ACL, which also explains the $5 million in incentives.

New York brought Williams in for a visit and got a sandwich as well as a new contract all in one day. Jets fans now hope he’ll help eat up opposing defenses and create a strong pairing with new teammate Garrett Wilson.