Although the Jets’ struggles continued this season, they put a kick returner on the All-Pro team for the second time in four years. Braxton Berrios followed Andre Roberts‘ offering, and after the team opted not to keep Roberts in 2019, a path for Berrios to stay has formed.
An unrestricted free agent in March, Berrios can only negotiate with the Jets until the legal tampering period begins. The sides have discussed a deal for Berrios to stay, the young receiver/return man said during an appearance on Pardon My Take (via SNY). “We’ve talked,” Berrios said, though he is not committed to working out a deal with the Jets.
“I don’t look at it as, like, ‘Oh, I want to go to this division or this conference,'” Berrios said. “That’s not where my head’s at, at least. … It’s two sides [in negotiations]. We’ll see what happens. We’ll see what happens.”
Berrios, 26, did praise the current Jets coaching staff, Robert Saleh in particular, and has carved out a key role during Joe Douglas‘ GM regime. The former Patriots UDFA addition will have an interesting market, with the cap set to spike near $210MM after 2021’s pandemic-induced reduction.
The ex-Miami Hurricane scored five touchdowns, in three varieties, in his third Jets season and finished as the NFL’s leader in yards per kick return (30.4). His 102-yard score in the Jets’ Week 16 win over the Jaguars increased that figure significantly. For a Jets squad that played without Corey Davis and Elijah Moore for extended periods, Berrios stepped in as a receiver as well. He finished with 46 catches for 431 yards and two TDs — one coming during the team’s near-upset over the Buccaneers in Week 17 — while adding two rushing scores. Berrios did not play in New York’s finale due to a quadriceps injury.
New York has Davis and Moore locked up long-term, but a deal with Berrios makes sense. Given Denzel Mims‘ lack of development, the team figures to still have a receiver need even if it does re-up Berrios. Jamison Crowder and Keelan Cole (896 receiving yards between them) are also set for free agency.
Berrios I think will be a Belichick target this off-season to fill the a lot receiver role
Wish we had kept him in the first place. A much better player than Gunnar.
“I don’t look at it as, like, ‘Oh, I want to go to this division or this conference,’”
Any team that offers the most is your team! Glad he gets that.
EXACTLY! Get it while you can cause there us no loyalty in sports.