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Jets Release K Greg Zuerlein

May 16th, 2025 at 1:05pm CST by Adam La Rose

Greg Zuerlein‘s three-year run with the Jets has come to an end. The veteran kicker was released on Friday, per a team announcement.

Zuerlein enjoyed a strong pair of seasons upon arrival in New York, connecting on 86.7% of his field goal attempts over that stretch. The Jets aimed to keep him in the fold last spring, and a two-year pact was indeed agreed to in March. Instead of collecting a $4.1MM salary for 2025, though, Zuerlein will hit free agency late in the offseason.

Cutting the 37-year-old will create $2.42MM in cap savings for New York. The team will incur a $2.31MM dead charge as a result. Of course, finances are not the only factor which drove this decision. Zuerlein struggled during his eight appearances last season while spending much of the year on the sidelines due to injury. This move comes with a failed physical designation, Aaron Wilson of KPRC2 notes.

A large audition period was held in the middle of the campaign as a result of Zuerlein’s struggles and ailments. That led to deals for Riley Patterson and Spencer Shrader in October, although neither of them remain on the team at this point. The only other experienced kicker currently on the Jets’ roster is Anders Carlson, who split his time between San Francisco and New York last season following his brief Packers tenure. The 26-year-old connected on eight of 10 field goal attempts in five games for the Jets before signing a futures deal in January.

New York did not draft a kicker last month, although Caden Davis was among the 15 undrafted free agents added to the team’s rookie class recently. The Ole Miss product will compete with Carlson during the summer, although more options could be added before training camp. Zuerlein, meanwhile, will likely struggle to generate a market given his age and poor showing when on the field last year. The former All-Pro could nevertheless get a look in the event of injuries or underwhelming showings around the league in the near future.

This marks the second key special teams move in recent days for the Jets. On Tuesday, the team cut veteran punter Thomas Morstead. A new group of specialists will be in place for 2025.

Jets Release P Thomas Morstead

May 13th, 2025 at 2:29pm CST by Sam Robinson

The Jets added a low-profile punter recently, and they are removing their incumbent from the competition. The team is releasing veteran Thomas Morstead, per the New York Post’s Ryan Dunleavy.

Morstead spent the past two seasons as the Jets’ punter. The team has since announced the release, along with the signing of Kai Kroeger.

Austin McNamara, a 2024 UDFA, signed with the Jets in March. With McNamara not playing in a regular-season game last year, that move did not generate much attention. But the Jets did make sweeping changes since re-signing Morstead in 2024, replacing the Joe Douglas–Robert Saleh regime with the Darren Mougey–Aaron Glenn partnership. The new power brokers appear to be planning a competition between two far less experienced punters.

Not part of the Jets’ initial 15-man UDFA class, Kroeger joined the team Tuesday after a five-year career as South Carolina’s punter. Kroeger punted in 61 games for the Gamecocks from 2020-24; his best gross average came last season (47.8). McNamara served as Texas Tech’s punter from 2019-23, joining Kroeger in taking advantage of the COVID-19 year. McNamara averaged a career-best 48.2 yards per boot in 2021.

This is the third time the Jets have released Morstead. They cut him midway through the 2021 season and then did make a procedural release upon setting its roster in 2023. Morstead re-signed with the Jets shortly after they sorted out other roster issues and punted in every game for the team over the past two seasons. The former Saints Super Bowl-winning specialist averaged 48.8 yards per punt in 2023 — his most since a Pro Bowl 2012 season (mostly spent indoors) — and posted a 47.2-yard number last year.

The Jets, who had re-signed Morstead on a two-year deal worth $5.1MM in 2024, will save $2.55MM in cap space by cutting him this time. He was due to make a $2.13MM base salary. McNamara and Kroeger will be on league-minimum numbers. With neither having played in an NFL game, the Jets going with another free agent could also transpire. Either way, Morstead is a free agent again at 39. It will be interesting to see if he can secure an opportunity to play a 17th NFL season.

NFL Draft Pick Signings: 5/12/25

May 12th, 2025 at 10:04pm CST by Nikhil Mehta

The following 2025 draft picks signed their rookie contracts today:

Arizona Cardinals

Dallas Cowboys

New Orleans Saints

New York Jets

Philadelphia Eagles

San Francisco 49ers

Jets Sign 15 UDFA Rookies

May 11th, 2025 at 9:58pm CST by Ely Allen

The Jets announced the completion of their 22-man rookie class this weekend. Joining the seven drafted players will be the following 15 undrafted free agent signings:

The Jets spent a ton on undrafted free agent guarantees in order to get the guys they wanted this year, according to multiple reports from Aaron Wilson of KPRC 2. The largest of these deals went to Wiegand, who Wilson reports got $249K in guarantees comprised of $234K in base salary and a $15K signing bonus. Weston was next with $200K in guarantees. Skinner received $185K in guaranteed money, Edwards received $170K, (Dean) Clark received $160K ($140K in base salary, $20K in signing bonus), and Mulbah received $100K.

After spending a year at UCF in 2021, Wiegand went to Germany and played in the European League of Football. Most recently, he played for the Munich Ravens, whose offensive line coach just happens to be Browns Hall of Fame legend Joe Thomas. Wiegand caught the eyes of several scouts when he churned out 38 bench press reps of 225 pounds at his pro day, five more than the combine’s best participant. Coming from overseas, Wiegand was granted a roster exemption as a member of the International Player Pathway program.

Despite all the money getting thrown around for priority free agents, Edwards was really the only one projected to be selected late in Day 3. He didn’t take over as a starter for the Wolverines until his senior season and never broke 1,000 rushing yards. His best season came in 2022, when he was the “two” in the one-two punch with Blake Corum. He totaled 991 rushing yards and seven touchdowns that year while averaging an incredible 7.1 yards per carry. His abilities as a receiver could help him continue his role as a change-of-pace back in the NFL.

Miller arrived in Piscataway as an FCS star, having just earned first-team All-American and first-team All-CAA honors as a team captain for Monmouth with 90 catches for 1,293 yards and nine touchdowns. His final collegiate season was plagued by drops (10), but his 59 catches for 757 yards still led the Scarlet Knights in both categories.

Minor NFL Transactions: 5/9/25

May 9th, 2025 at 6:41pm CST by Ely Allen

Here are the minor NFL transactions to close out the week:

Arizona Cardinals

  • Received roster exemption (international player): OL Valentin Senn

Atlanta Falcons

  • Received roster exemption (international player): K Lenny Krieg
  • Waived: DT Junior Aho

Buffalo Bills

Carolina Panthers

Cincinnati Bengals

  • Received roster exemption (international player): S Dante Barnett

Detroit Lions

Houston Texans

Indianapolis Colts

Las Vegas Raiders

  • Waived (with failed physical designation): WR Jeff Foreman

Los Angeles Chargers

Minnesota Vikings

  • Received roster exemption (international player): P Oscar Chapman

New York Jets

  • Received roster exemption (international player): G Leander Wiegand

San Francisco 49ers

Seattle Seahawks

Dyson was cut from the team after news that running back Jonathon Brooks‘ placement on the physically unable to perform list would, in fact, still count him against the 90-man roster limit. They initially were told by the league that he would not count, but the updated guidance today necessitated that they lose a man.

Jackson joins Seattle’s undrafted free agent rookie class after they announced their 17 signees almost a week ago. A successful rookie minicamp tryout led to him securing a contract.

Similarly, Bentley, for whatever reason was also announced separately from the Colts’ UDFA class, even though the class was announced only a few hours before his signing. The 24-year-old hasn’t been a lead back since his 2020 season at SMU, but in three years apiece at SMU and Ole Miss, Bentley never averaged below five yards per carry in a season.

Minor NFL Transactions: 5/8/25

May 8th, 2025 at 9:23pm CST by Nikhil Mehta

Here are the latest minor moves from around the NFL:

Carolina Panthers

New York Giants

New York Jets

  • Waived (failed physical): LB Jimmy Ciarlo, WR Marcus Riley
  • Waived: WR Easop Winston

Granger is a former Division I basketball player attempting to convert to tight end under the tutelage of George Fant, who also played D-I basketball before embarking on his NFL career. A hamstring injury led to his release, according to ESPN’s David Newton.

Jets Sign First-Round T Armand Membou, Four Other Draftees

May 8th, 2025 at 9:04pm CST by Nikhil Mehta

The Jets have signed first-round offensive tackle Armand Membou to a four-year rookie contract worth $31.9MM, per a team announcement. Like all first-round picks, the deal is fully guaranteed and contains a fifth-year option for 2029.

Membou will likely take over the Jets’ starting right tackle job right away after Morgan Moses left New York in free agency this offseason. The Missouri product will face some competition from former Day 3 picks Carter Warren and Max Mitchell, but his three years of starting experience in the SEC and elite athleticism should help him adjust to the NFL quickly. With 2024 first-rounder Olu Fashanu set to take over at left tackle, the Jets are hoping they’ve found bookends to their offensive line for the foreseeable future.

The Jets also announced the signing of four other draft picks: third-rounder Azareye’h Thomas (No. 73), fourth-rounder Malachi Moore (No. 130) and fifth-rounders Francisco Mauigoa (No. 163) and Tyler Baron (No. 176).

Thomas brings even more talent to a Jets secondary that was already a team bright spot in 2024. The Florida State product is a long, physical corner who lacks elite athleticism or ball production. He doesn’t have slot versatility, so he will likely start behind Sauce Gardner and Brandon Stephens on the depth chart. Still, Thomas’ instincts and competitiveness will have him pushing for starting snaps quickly; in the meantime, his special teams experience will allow him to contribute from Day 1.

Moore brings plenty of experience in the slot from his time at Alabama, but he played some of his best football in 2024 as a free safety. He showed good range in coverage and a quick trigger against the run, though he has average size and athleticism. The Jets are set to start former UDFA Tony Adams and free agent signing Andre Cisco at safety in 2025, but neither are under contract past this season. Moore should be able to carve out a rotational role as a rookie with a clear shot at a starting job in 2026. Like Thomas, he has plenty of experience on special teams that will give him more opportunities to see the field.

Mauigoa led Miami’s defense in 2023 and 2024 and racked up 178 tackles (35 for loss). The 22-year-old is a durable, instinctive linebacker who will need to work on getting off blocks and consistently tackling ballcarriers in the NFL. He’ll have time to do that in an experienced Jets linebacker room while he plays special teams as a rookie.

Baron, who played with Mauigoa in 2024, is an explosive edge rusher with 21.5 tackles for loss and 11.5 sacks across his final two college seasons. He has an enticing frame with long arms and a burgeoning understanding of how to use them to beat blocks. The NFL will test Baron’s ability to set the edge against the run and add more power to his game. The Jets’ pair of 2022 first-round edge defenders – Will McDonald and Jermaine Johnson – profile as the team’s starters for the foreseeable future, but Baron could grow into a rotational pass rusher with more potential if he grows as a run defender.

The Jets have two draft picks who have yet to sign their rookie contracts: second-round tight end Mason Taylor and fourth-round wide receiver Arian Smith. Here is a full list of their 2025 draft class:

Jets WR Allen Lazard ‘In Play’ For Steelers

May 7th, 2025 at 10:05pm CST by Nikhil Mehta

After trading George Pickens to the Cowboys, the Steelers could be in the market to add depth at wide receiver. Their pursuit of Aaron Rodgers may point them towards one of his favorite targets: Allen Lazard.

Lazard is currently under contract with the Jets, but he is “‘in play’ to be traded to the Steelers,” according to Pro Football Talk’s Mike Florio. The 29-year-old wideout started his NFL career with Rodgers in Green Bay and was signed by the Jets in 2023 as part of their effort to bring the four-time MVP to New York.

Lazard put up career-worst numbers in 2023 while catching passes from three different quarterbacks following Rodgers’ Achilles injury. He was a healthy scratch for the last two games of the season but rebounded in 2024 with Rodgers back under center. Lazard missed five games due to injury and finished the season with 37 receptions on 60 targets for 530 yards and six touchdowns.

The Steelers have kept in touch with Rodgers since his visit and remain “hopeful” that he will play for the team this year, per ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler. Trading draft capital for Lazard would be another indication of Pittsburgh’s confidence that Rodgers will put pen to paper eventually.

Moving on from Lazard likely wouldn’t be an issue for the Jets after Rodgers’ departure this offseason. Their new regime signed two veterans with similar skillsets in Josh Reynolds and Tyler Johnson, per ESPN’s Rich Cimini, which could make Lazard surplus to requirements.

Lazard’s acceptance of a $7.5MM pay cut earlier this offseason makes his contract far more attractive in a trade. His 2025 salary is now just $2.25MM with $1.75MM fully-guaranteed and another $250k available in per-game roster bonuses, per OverTheCap. That’s more money than the Steelers saved by trading Pickens; while they still need to budget for Rodgers, they can still certainly afford to add Lazard to their ledger.

The Jets, meanwhile, will have to account for $6.55MM in dead money if they trade Lazard. A pre-June 1 trade would put it all on the books in 2025 and cost them an extra $1.9MM against the salary cap, while a post-June 1 trade would push $4.37MM to 2026 with $2.43MM of overall cap savings this year.

Lazard’s connection to Rodgers will no doubt interest the Steelers, especially if one acquisition would beget the other. However, they are still counting on a jump from 2024 third-rounder Roman Wilson after his disappointing rookie season, per Fowler. Injuries limited Wilson to just one appearance with five snaps and zero targets in 2024. A healthy offseason could give him a better chance at capitalizing on his impressive physical profile, especially if he’s catching passes from Rodgers instead of Mason Rudolph.

Pittsburgh now has three 2026 third-rounders they could use to add WR depth, as noted by Fowler, though it’s hard to imagine Lazard fetching more than a Day 3 pick. He might be a cheaper alternative to some of their other targets, which may be the team’s preference after their substantial investment in D.K. Metcalf. Using a late-round pick to acquire Lazard would leave the Steelers enough premium draft picks in 2026 to add another receiver on Day 2 or even move up in the first round for a quarterback.

2025 NFL Draft Results: Team By Team

May 3rd, 2025 at 2:03pm CST by Sam Robinson

Here is every team’s haul from the 2025 NFL Draft:

Arizona Cardinals

Atlanta Falcons

Baltimore Ravens

Buffalo Bills

Carolina Panthers

Chicago Bears

Cincinnati Bengals

Cleveland Browns

Dallas Cowboys

Read more

2026 NFL Fifth-Year Option Tracker

May 1st, 2025 at 11:19pm CST by Sam Robinson

NFL teams have until May 1 to officially pick up fifth-year options on 2022 first-rounders. The 2020 CBA revamped the option structure and made them fully guaranteed, rather than guaranteed for injury only. Meanwhile, fifth-year option salaries are now determined by a blend of performance- and usage-based benchmarks:

  • Two-time Pro Bowlers (excluding alternates) will earn the same as their position’s franchise tag
  • One-time Pro Bowlers will earn the equivalent of the transition tag
  • Players who achieve any of the following will receive the average of the third-20th-highest salaries at their position:
    • At least a 75% snap rate in two of their first three seasons
    • A 75% snap average across all three seasons
    • At least 50% in each of first three seasons
  • Players who do not hit any of those benchmarks will receive the average of the third-25th top salaries at their position

We covered how last year’s Pro Bowl invites affected the 2022 first-round class. With the deadline looming, we will use the space below to track all the 2026 option decisions from around the league:

  1. DE/OLB Travon Walker, Jaguars ($14.75MM): Exercised
  2. DE/OLB Aidan Hutchinson, Lions ($19.87MM): Exercised
  3. CB Derek Stingley Jr., Texans ($17.6MM): Extended through 2029
  4. CB Sauce Gardner, Jets ($20.19MM): Exercised
  5. OLB Kayvon Thibodeaux, Giants ($14.75MM): Exercised
  6. T Ikem Ekwonu, Panthers ($17.56MM): Exercised
  7. T Evan Neal, Giants ($16.69MM): Declined
  8. WR Drake London, Falcons ($16.82MM): Exercised
  9. T Charles Cross, Seahawks ($17.56MM): Exercised
  10. WR Garrett Wilson, Jets ($16.82MM): Exercised
  11. WR Chris Olave, Saints ($15.49MM): Exercised
  12. WR Jameson Williams, Lions ($15.49MM): Exercised
  13. DT Jordan Davis, Eagles ($12.94MM): Exercised
  14. S Kyle Hamilton, Ravens ($18.6MM): Exercised
  15. G Kenyon Green, Eagles* ($16.69MM): Declined
  16. WR Jahan Dotson, Eagles** ($16.82MM): Declined
  17. G Zion Johnson, Chargers ($17.56MM): Declined
  18. WR Treylon Burks, Titans ($15.49MM): Declined
  19. T Trevor Penning, Saints ($16.69MM): Declined
  20. QB Kenny Pickett, Browns*** ($22.12MM): Declined
  21. CB Trent McDuffie, Chiefs ($17.6MM): Exercised
  22. LB Quay Walker, Packers ($14.75MM): Declined
  23. CB Kaiir Elam, Cowboys**** ($12.68MM): Declined
  24. G Tyler Smith, Cowboys ($20.99MM): Exercised
  25. C Tyler Linderbaum, Ravens ($20.99MM): Declined
  26. DE Jermaine Johnson, Jets ($13.92MM): Exercised
  27. LB Devin Lloyd, Jaguars ($14.75MM): Exercised
  28. DT Devonte Wyatt, Packers ($12.94MM): Exercised
  29. G Cole Strange, Patriots ($16.69MM): Declined
  30. DE George Karlaftis, Chiefs ($15.12MM): Exercised
  31. DB Dax Hill, Bengals ($12.68MM): Exercised
  32. S Lewis Cine, Vikings: N/A

* = traded from Texans on March 11, 2025
** = traded from Commanders on August 22, 2024
*** = traded from Eagles on March 15, 2024; traded from Steelers on March 10, 2025
**** = traded from Bills to Cowboys on March 12, 2025

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