7 key players who have definitely played their final game with NY Jets have now put an exit to the Team
These Jets players won’t be back in 2024
This list is reserved for the Jets players, who will almost definitely be gone this offseason. So, for guys like Bryce Huff and Jordan Whitehead, who could feasibly be re-signed, they won’t be included.
7. Al Woods, DT, NY Jets
The Jets signed veteran Al Woods this past offseason with the goal of improving their inconsistent run defense. A traditional run-stuffing nose tackle, Woods may not have been a perfect fit for the Jets’ scheme, but he did fill the role the team was looking for.
Woods was a situational player in the Jets’ defensive line rotation before suffering a torn Achilles in the team’s Week 8 win over the New York Giants. That injury might just be the end of Woods’ NFL career.
The 13-year NFL veteran appeared in six games for the Jets in 2023, finishing with six tackles, one sack, two tackles for loss, and a safety. He was fine, but it’s hard to imagine the Jets look to bring him back.
Even if Woods doesn’t retire, the Jets are likely to go in a different direction with their defensive tackle rotation next season. Quinton Jefferson and Solomon Thomas, also pending free agents, are higher priorities.
6. Duane Brown, OT, NY Jets
Speaking of injured veterans who could retire this offseason, Duane Brown is in a very similar boat to Al Woods. The Jets, however, didn’t expect Brown to be a rotational player. He was supposed to be the team’s starting left tackle.
It was always a risk banking on the aging Brown to start a full season at left tackle, especially after undergoing shoulder surgery in the offseason. The risk didn’t pay off.
Brown started the first two games of the season, struggled mightily, and was placed on the injured reserve shortly after. He was eventually activated from the IR, but he’s exclusively been used as an extra blocker since then.
Brown will turn 39 years old before the start of the 2024 season, and it’s hard to envision a scenario in which the Jets bring him back. Much like Woods, this could be the end of Brown’s career.
5. C.J. Uzomah, TE, NY Jets
The Jets seem to have found a reliable and capable tight-end duo in Tyler Conklin and the young Jeremy Ruckert, the latter of which essentially replaced veteran C.J. Uzomah in the offense midseason.
The Jets restructured Uzomah’s contract in the offseason, partially because they valued his leadership and contributions on offense. They likely regret that decision in hindsight.
Uzomah hauled in just eight catches for 58 yards and a touchdown this season while also struggling as a blocker. Ruckert’s midseason promotion on the depth chart was a long time coming.
The Jets can and will release Uzomah this offseason, saving $5.3 million in cap space. Unfortunately, the near $6 million in dead cap (plus an additional $2.7 million in 2025) the Jets will take on as a result isn’t ideal.
4. Bryce Hall, CB, NY Jets
The Jets have the deepest and most talented cornerback room in the NFL. That extends beyond their obvious star-studded trio of Sauce Gardner, D.J. Reed, and Michael Carter II as well.
Bryce Hall has been relegated to a bench role with the Jets over the last two seasons, often serving as a game-day inactive, but it wasn’t long ago that he looked like a potential future building block on defense.
Hall has ample starting experience and proved this year that he can still play at a starting-caliber level when he filled in for injuries. Expect some team to value him more than the Jets this offseason.
Hall is set to be a free agent, and it wouldn’t be a surprise to see a team give him an opportunity to compete for a starting job in 2024. That team won’t be the Jets.
3. Carl Lawson, DE, NY Jets
Another contract restructure the Jets likely regret is Carl Lawson. The Jets could’ve saved $15 million by releasing Lawson this past offseason with $0 in dead cap. Instead, they decided to bring him back on a reduced deal as a result of the restructure.
Their logic made sense at the time. Lawson was another year removed from his torn Achilles, had appeared in all 17 games the year prior, and was still seen as an integral part of the team’s defensive line rotation.
A healthy Lawson could’ve been huge for the Jets’ defense in 2024. Unfortunately, Lawson suffered a back injury before the season started and never really recovered. He’s spent most of the season on the bench as a “healthy” inactive.
In the six games that Lawson did play in 2023, he finished with just five tackles, zero sacks, and zero QB hits. The Jets will move on this offseason, but they’ll still be on the hook for $6.3 million in dead cap in 2024 because of the restructure.
2. Mekhi Becton, OT, NY Jets
Mekhi Becton deserves a lot of credit for getting himself into the best shape of his career and essentially playing a full season after missing each of the last two years due to consecutive knee injuries.
A healthy season is a win for Becton as both a person and a player, even if his performance on the field hasn’t been what the Jets would have hoped for.
1. Zach Wilson , QB, NY Jets
The Zach Wilson era was supposed to be over when he was benched for Chris Streveler last season. Then, it was supposed to be over when the Jets traded for Aaron Rodgers. Surely, it was over after Wilson was benched for Tim Boyle earlier this year, right?
