Jets’ $10 million decision: Is Jamison Crowder a keeper in new offense? – New York Jets Blog

FLORHAM PARK, N.J. — There have been occasions final season when it regarded like extensive receiver Jamison Crowder was the one benefit of the New York Jets‘ offense. He scored a team-high six touchdowns, twice as many as the subsequent participant, and he capped his 12 months by throwing a landing in a Week 16 win in opposition to the Cleveland Browns.

Now there’s hypothesis he may very well be a salary-cap casualty. Yeah, it is a chilly enterprise.

Crowder is susceptible as a result of his cap cost is a team-high $11.4 million, together with a non-guaranteed $10 million in base wage — a excessive quantity for a slot receiver. As a result of it is the ultimate 12 months of his contract, he is thought of an “straightforward” minimize as a result of his whole base would come off the books. Which raises the query:

Does a crew with loads of cap room (a projected $68 million, per Over The Cap) jettison its best offensive ability participant simply because his cap cost is over market?

In a vacuum, the reply is a no brainer — maintain him — however you do not construct a profitable roster by working that method. Jets common supervisor Joe Douglas performs hardball in relation to sustaining a worth system, so it would not be a shock if he seems to be to re-invest that $10 million.

Douglas might attempt to improve at slot receiver with JuJu Smith-Schuster (Pittsburgh Steelers) or Chris Godwin (Tampa Bay Buccaneers) in 2021 NFL free agency; that may price critical cash. He additionally might go for a less expensive possibility, Kendrick Bourne (San Francisco 49ers), who spent the previous 4 years within the system the Jets are planning to put in. There’s additionally the potential for re-negotiating Crowder’s contract.

Crowder, who turns 28 on June 17, ranked seventh in receptions (91) and eighth in yards (1,094) on performs from the slot place over the previous two seasons, in line with ESPN Stats & Data. That is fairly good manufacturing for a participant who missed 4 video games in 2020 due to soft-tissue accidents and handled inconsistency on the quarterback place. Former Jets coach Adam Gase remarked on quite a few events Crowder was their greatest participant on offense.

All advised, Crowder completed with 59 catches for 699 yards — each crew highs in 2020, however pedestrian numbers when seen by way of a wider lens.

In a bottom-line sense, Crowder’s numbers aren’t commensurate along with his pay. He has the third-highest cap cost amongst receivers who performed no less than 50% of their downs from the slot over the previous two years, behind the Cleveland Browns‘ Jarvis Landry ($14.8 million) and the Seattle Seahawks‘ Tyler Lockett ($13.4 million). Full disclosure: Landry’s time within the slot was 49.5%, per ESPN Stats & Data.

The draw back to chopping Crowder is it could go away the Jets with no confirmed gamers at receiver, simply promising, second-year participant Denzel Mims, backup slot receiver Braxton Berrios and a bunch of query marks. Berrios had a sneaky environment friendly season, catching 37 passes regardless of taking part in 290 snaps — a greater ratio than Crowder (59 catches in 590 snaps).

Crowder would offer personnel continuity by way of the transition to an offense beneath coach Robert Saleh, however that most likely will not weigh closely within the choice. This can be a new teaching workers with a brand new offensive system — a complete re-boot — and it’ll look to usher in its personal gamers. And you may guess there will probably be a big acquisition at extensive receiver, whether or not it is by way of free company or the draft.

One other issue to contemplate is the position of the slot receiver in coordinator Mike LaFleur’s offense. For perception, let’s take a look at San Francisco, the place he spent the previous 4 years working beneath coach Kyle Shanahan. From 2017 to 2020, the 49ers’ extensive receivers caught 258 passes out of the slot (twenty ninth), in line with ESPN Stats & Data. The rating is a bit skewed as a result of the Niners received numerous slot manufacturing from star tight finish George Kittle. It is also value noting slot receiver Emmanuel Sanders was a key piece throughout San Francisco’s Tremendous Bowl run in 2019.

Good coaches discover methods to make use of good gamers, and Crowder is an effective participant. Now they must determine if he is ok to pay $10 million.