HEADLINES

Jeff Cumberland

Jets In Serious Talks With Howard, Cumberland

March 7th, 2014 at 4:25pm CST by Luke Adams

4:25pm: The Jets are also “engaged heavily in negotiations” with offensive tackle Austin Howard, reports Brian Costello of the New York Post. The club is hoping to lock up both Howard and Cumberland before the free-agents-to-be are eligible to sign elsewhere.

10:53am: The Jets are currently engaged in “serious negotiations” with tight end Jeff Cumberland, a source tells Manish Mehta of the New York Daily News. It’s not clear yet whether the two sides will reach an agreement by Tuesday to keep the prospective free agent off the market.

Cumberland, who went undrafted out of Illinois, has posted similar numbers in his last two seasons with the Jets. In 2013, he totaled 26 receptions for 398 receiving yards and four touchdowns. Given Cumberland’s age (26) and the Jets’ up-and-down quarterback production during his stint with the team, it’s reasonable to assume that his most productive years could be ahead of him.

When I examined 2014’s free agent market for tight ends, I placed Cumberland in the second tier, and since then, the two first-tier options – Jimmy Graham and Dennis Pitta – have been franchised and extended respectively. As such, Cumberland could draw a little extra interest from teams in need of a tight end if he reaches the open market.

Jets Notes: Cumberland, Ebron, Evans

February 19th, 2014 at 7:26pm CST by Zachary Links

The Jets and Austin Howard are working on a new deal and the two sides hope to have something ironed out before the start of free agency on March 11th. Howard could be in line for a deal similar to the one signed by Patriots right tackle Sebastian Vollmer a year ago which would mean something in the range of a four-year contract worth about $17MM that could balloon to $27MM due to various incentives. The Jets could also dip into the coffers to take care of another member of Gang Green. More out of the Meadowlands..

  • The Jets are in discussions to bring back unrestricted free agent tight end Jeff Cumberland, team sources tell Manish Mehta of the New York Daily News. Cumberland’s playing time was curtailed early last season by Kellen Winslow‘s presence but the organization is bullish on Cumberland’s ability to take the next step in 2014, his fifth season.
  • Within the article, Mehta also runs down possible draft day targets for the Jets as the combine approaches. North Carolina tight end Eric Ebron, Texas A&M wide receiver Mike Evans, and Florida State wide receiver Kelvin Benjamin are among the players highlighted.
  • Big changes loom for the Jets as the combine approaches, writes Brian Costello of the New York Post. The Jets currently have about $20MM in cap space and can free up another $25.5MM by saying goodbye to former franchise stars Mark Sanchez, Santonio Holmes, and Antonio Cromartie.