New York Daily News

Gang to release Berrios, make deal for

- BY ANTWAN STALEY

As Aaron Rodgers watch rolls on Thursday, the Jets made a transactio­n to generate more salary cap space while also acquiring a much-needed veteran safety.

The Jets will release wide receiver and returner Braxton Berrios after four seasons.

Gang Green also agreed to send a 2024 seventh-round pick to the

Ravens for safety Chuck Clark. Both transactio­ns will be processed at the start of the new league year on March 15, according to sources.

After having a career year in 2021, last season was anything but for Berrios. He struggled with drops, missed assignment­s and muffed returns.

Berrios caught 18 passes for 145 yards and recorded two rushing touchdowns for the Jets last season. He also averaged 11.4 per punt return and 23.1 per kick return.

In 2021, Berrios had a career-high 46 catches for 431 yards and two touchdowns. He also averaged career-highs in punt (13.4) and kick returning (30.4) as he was a first-team All-Pro returner.

Cutting Berrios will save the Jets $5 million in salary cap space. Before this move, the Jets were $1.7 million over the salary cap. All 32 NFL teams must be under the cap by the start of each new league year.

The Ravens were likely going to release Clark on March 15 but will trade him to the Jets instead. Baltimore reportedly attempted to trade Clark last season but could not find any takers. Last season, Clark started all 17 games for Baltimore and recorded 101 tackles and four pass deflection­s.

Clark is due to make $4.14 million in his contract’s final year, with $661,765 of that guaranteed. With the addition of Clark, this could signal the end of Jordan Whitehead’s time with the Jets.

Last year during free agency, Whitehead signed a two-year, $14.5 million contract with the Jets. But he failed to live up to the expectatio­ns in an improving Jets defense.

Whitehead struggled with coverage assignment­s and missed tackles throughout the season. He finished with 89 tackles and two intercepti­ons.

Releasing Whitehead would

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