Mike Pennel is hitting the open market.
According to ESPN’s Field Yates, the Jets did not pick pick up Pennel’s option with two years left on his deal, thus making him a free agent next month. He would’ve received a $1 million bonus if the Jets kept him on the roster.
The 27-year-old defensive tackle originally went undrafted out of Colorado State-Pueblo in 2014. He signed with the Packers a couple of weeks later and made their active roster. Pennel recorded eight tackles in 13 games during his rookie season.
In 2015, Pennel played in all 16 games and started five of them. He finished that season with 24 tackles, one sack and one forced fumble. The following season was a tough one for Pennel, who was slapped with two four-game suspensions – one at the beginning of the season and one at the end of the season – for violating the league’s substance abuse policy. He was then released after the season.
The Jets decided to give Pennel a shot in February 2017. He played in all 16 games and had 35 tackles. He was rewarded with a three-year deal before the 2018 season and recorded 27 tackles this past season.
Now, that deal is coming to a premature end. Rather than finish out his contract with the Jets, Pennel will look for a new home in free agency.
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