The New York Jets have several tasks on their to-do list heading into the 2024 NFL offseason. While a lot of people will point to the quarterback position behind Aaron Rodgers as the most important, after seeing another season torpedoed by underwhelming quarterback play, the most pressing need is along the offensive line.
The Jets were among the worst teams offensive in 2023 in large part because of the inability of their offensive line to produce. New York couldn’t block anyone consistently, whether it was in pass protection or to open up holes in the running game.
Expect general manager Joe Douglas to work hard on finding some help in the trenches this offseason as his job could depend on it. A complete overhaul could be on the horizon and that process began on Monday.
NFL News & Rumors: Laken Tomlinson, 2024 NFL Free Agency, New York Jets Updates
According to ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler, via Rich Cimini, the Jets have decided to release veteran offensive lineman Laken Tomlinson. This was a move everyone was expecting as the starting left guard had a cap hit of $18.9 million for the 2024 season.
New York will be stuck with $10.7 million in dead cap but will save $8.1 million off the salary cap this year. This is the first of what is expected to be several moves along the offensive line for the Jets.
Tomlinson joined Gang Green in 2022 when he signed a three-year, $40 million contract in free agency, leaving the San Francisco 49ers after a Pro Bowl campaign. That level of performance didn’t follow him to New York, as inconsistency led to Tomlinson not living up to expectations.
Last season, Tomlinson especially struggled in pass protection. He surrendered 9.5 sacks in 2023, which was second most amongst guards in the league per NFL Next Gen Stats.
NFL News & Rumors: Laken Tomlinson, 2024 NFL Free Agency, New York Jets Updates
The one thing that Tomlinson does bring to the table, which the Jets appreciated, is durability. In his two seasons in New York, he didn’t miss a single snap. That was a welcome change for the team, who started 13 different combinations in 2023 alone.
In fact, Tomlinson hasn’t missed a game since 2017, when he missed one with the 49ers. That is the only game in his nine-year career that he has missed, as the 2015 first-round pick of the Detroit Lions is as reliable as they come when it comes to staying on the field.
Any franchise looking for a durable, experienced interior offensive lineman will show interest in Tomlinson. While he didn’t get the job done consistently with the Jets, he could provide a team with an excellent insurance policy off the bench as a depth piece.
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