Brian Winters’ name has come up as a potential cap casualty for the Jets this offseason, but the team may have other ideas.
Winters is scheduled to make $7.2 million in 2020, but none of it is guaranteed. That allows the Jets to cut Winters from the roster without taking on any dead cap. However, Winters is the only starter on the offensive line under contract next season and Joe Douglas hinted that he could return.
“We haven’t made any decisions in terms of releasing anyone yet,” Douglas told reporters at the NFL combine. “We plan on making those decisions, but again, with Brian, special case because he’s the only returning starter. We’re not looking to leave ourselves even more of a hole.”
This could just be Douglas keeping his cards close to the vest in case his quest to rebuild the line doesn’t go exactly as planned this offseason. However, Winters has been a career-long Jet and he has a toughness to him that Douglas appreciates in the trenches.
However, the Jets could put Winters’ money to good use in free agency should they part with him. They’re projected to be in the $50 million range in terms of cap space, but if they cut Winters, they could increase it even more.
Douglas is going to have to consider that Winters is coming off an injured season, too. He played through a shoulder injury for nine games before undergoing surgery.
“[He is] a guy that just battled, battled his tail off all year after injuring his shoulder in the preseason and fighting through,” Douglas said. “And you’re going to be hard-pressed to find a better teammate, a tougher guy than Brian Winters. … I’ve heard a lot of optimism and positives about his rehab. So again, seeing him around the locker room, you know, it’s always good to see Brian. He’s got a big smile on his face and he’s an outstanding Jet.”
