Jets Warned Not to Let Projected $36 Million Defender Depart in Free Agency
Bryce Huff is going to get the bag this offseason from someone.
There is a chance that a massive contract doesn’t come from the New York Jets. Brad Spielberger of Pro Football Focus warned the green and white not to let Huff go.
“For a team in the midst of an all-in window with Aaron Rodgers, a mid-rate deal for a designated pass-rushing specialist who can make game-changing plays in high-leverage moments would make a lot of sense,” Spielberger explained in an article posted on Thursday, January 25. “Huff’s 23.8% pass-rush win rate over the past two seasons trails only the great Myles Garrett, and he made strides as an early-down run defender as his role grew.”
Spotrac’s calculated market value projects Huff to sign a four-year $36 million contract this offseason. That $9.2 million annual salary would place him No. 25 among the highest-paid pass rushers in the NFL, per Over The Cap.
Jets Made a Mistake and It Could Cost Them Dearly
Huff signed with the Jets on an undrafted free-agent contract for $2.3 million. After that contract ran its course, Gang Green placed a second-round restricted free-agent tender for $4.3 million on Huff.
Now the former Memphis product is scheduled to be an unrestricted free agent for the very first time in 2024.
Spielberger said the Jets’ lack of a desire to hand Huff an early extension this past season was an “interesting” choice.
“I do know that there were conversations about re-signing Huff during the season, but they just ultimately decided they didn’t want to sign any of these guys to new deals [at that moment in time],” Zack Rosenblatt of The Athletic explained on “TOJ Talks.”
