Gang gives up plenty of Green to free agents
AFTER A flurry of activity during the legal tampering period, NFL free agency officially began Wednesday at 4 p.m.
The Daily News reported on a number of deals the Jets agreed to on Tuesday, including with cornerback Trumaine Johnson, running back Isaiah Crowell, inside linebacker Avery Williamson and quarterback Teddy Bridgewater. The Jets did not acknowledge those signings in the hours after free agency kicked off Wednesday, but monetary details of the contracts started emerging over the course of the day. Gang Green did announce the re-signing of quarterback Josh McCown, who will be returning to New York on a one-year, $10 million deal.
In addition, the Jets agreed to terms on a deal with former Washington center Spencer Long, according to source. Long will replace Wesley Johnson, who started 15 games at center for the Jets in 2017 and is a restricted free agent. Long, 27, started six games at center for Washington last season before landing on injured reserve with knee tendinitis. He also has starting experience at left guard.
Johnson’s deal is the most lucrative of the bunch. The former Rams cornerback agreed to terms on a five-year deal with $34 million guaranteed at signing, according to a source. The total possible value of the contract is $72.5 million, which amounts to a $14.5 million average annual value.
Crowell agreed to a three-year contract worth $12 million, including $6 million guaranteed, according to a source. The contract includes a $3 million signing bonus, a $1 million base salary in 2018 and $4 million base salaries in 2019 and 2020.
Williamson’s agency CAA tweeted the details for his new contract just after 4:30 p.m Wednesday: three years and $22.5 million. A source told the Daily News on Tuesday that Williamson’s deal includes $16 million guaranteed. Williamson, 26, will take over at middle linebacker for Demario Davis, the Jets’ defensive player-caller in 2017. Davis agreed to a threeyear, $24 million deal with the Saints — similar money to Williamson. Jets GM Mike Maccagnan went with the younger and, frankly, better player.
Bridgewater’s oneyear contract, meanwhile, has a max value of $15 million, according to a source, with a large portion of that being incentive-based.
While the Jets didn’t announce any of their big free-agent signings, they did reveal a number of tenders they offered to restricted free agents. They gave wide receiver Quincy Enunwa a second-round tender worth $2.9 million. Enunwa missed all of last season with a neck injury that required surgery. The Jets also gave right-of-first refusal tenders to safety Rontez Miles and offensive lineman Brant Qvale. They extended an original-round tender to tight end Neal Sterling.
The Jets also announced the re-signing of three exclusiverights free agents: safety Doug Middleton, fullback Lawrence Thomas and tight end Eric Tomlinson. Middleton missed all of 2017 with a torn pectoral muscle.
On top of Davis, the Jets lost two other free agents Wednesday. First, inside linebacker and special teamer Julian Stanford signed a two-year deal with the Bills. Then kicker Chandler Catanzaro agreed to terms on a deal with the Bucs. According to a source, Catanzaro’s contract is for three years and $9.75 million, with $3.75 million guaranteed.
That was too steep for the Jets, and now Maccagnan is in the market for a new kicker.
— with Manish Mehta