Jets Cut Pro Bowl Offensive Lineman
With just $15 million in cap space, the New York Jets need to have difficult conversations to open enough money to improve the roster in 2024.
The first step to accomplishing that first goal has finally begun.
New York released guard Laken Tomlinson after two disappointing seasons with the team. Tomlinson's release saves the Jets over $8 million in salary cap space but opens a new need along the offensive line. Despite playing in every game of his tenure, Tomlinson recorded an average Pro Football Focus grade of 55.
© Vincent Carchietta-USA TODAY Sports
Jeremy Fowler of ESPN was first on the news of Tomlinson's release.
Gang Green needed to decide on the future of the former San Francisco 49ers guard this offseason. His release carries a $10 million dead cap charge but improves the Jets cap space to over $24 million.
Outside of the positive news of improved space, the release of Tomlinson creates another need along the offensive line. The former first-round pick out of Duke was the only player on the Jets to start in all 17 games. For a group that played 13 different linemen and used 13 different combinations - losing their most dependable will be a difficult task to replace.
New York has needs at both tackle positions, depth to have behind a young Alijah Vera-Tucker (who has been lost for two straight seasons with Achilles injuries), as well as other needs across the offense.
Certainly, not the best time to also need a guard in the same free agent market.
Starting offensive linemen like Cody Whitehair, Kevin Zeitler, Dalton Risner, and Mike Onwenu are all potential veterans with starting experience that could help New York fill the current need at guard.
