The Jets cleared room for the latest wide receiver they traded for by dumping the last one they traded for.
The team released Percy Harvin five months after they acquired him from the Seahawks. The move was expected after Friday’s trade with the Bears for Brandon Marshall, a move that became official Tuesday afternoon when the new league year began.
Harvin’s release gives the Jets an additional $10.5 million in salary cap space. Marshall will take $7.7 million of that, so they gained $2.8 million with the move. By cutting Harvin, the Jets ensured the compensation for him will remain a sixth-round pick. If he was on the roster on March 19, the draft pick sent to Seattle would have become a fourth-rounder.
Jets general manager Mike Maccagnan said the team is open to bringing Harvin back, but that seems highly unlikely. The NFL Network reported the Patriots are the favorites to sign Harvin.
“Percy is a talented player who has been a model teammate with the Jets,” Maccagnan said in a statement. “We’ve made it clear to Percy and his representatives that we are open to a potential return if there is an arrangement that works for both sides, but out of respect for Percy, we want to give him an opportunity to test the market and evaluate his options. We appreciate his patience as we’ve worked through this process.”
Former Jets GM John Idzik made the move for Harvin on Oct. 18. It was a desperate move for Idzik, who saw the season spiraling out of control. He called it a “potential coup” at the time. Harvin had his moments, totaling 225 all-purpose yards against the Chiefs and 236 against the Vikings. But overall, he had a minimal impact.
Now, the Jets hope Marshall can provide the boost to the offense Harvin did not. The Jets sent a fifth-round pick to the Bears for Marshall. The Jets also acquired the Bears’ seventh-round pick in the trade, giving them a total of six picks in the NFL Draft.
Marshall told the team’s website he is excited about reuniting with Jets coach Todd Bowles, who was on the staff with the Dolphins when Marshall played there in 2010-11.
“I kind of knew about it before it all happened,” Marshall told the site. “It was pretty cool to be able to sit back and figure out who really wanted me and the right place for me. Being able to be in New York with Coach Bowles, I thought, was an amazing opportunity and one that I thought I couldn’t pass up.”
Marshall praised Bowles’ approach.
“Coach Bowles allows guys to be themselves,” he said. “He treats everyone like men and like pros. That’s what it’s about right there. That’s what I’ve seen work, is when guys feel comfortable coming to work and they’re not micromanaged and there’s someone there they can believe in, they can trust. He’s an amazing leader.”
Marshall, who turns 31 later this month, said he has a lot of football left.
“At this point in my career, I’ve still got 10 more years left in me,” he said. “It’s the same thing from Day 1. I’m just trying to get better at everything possible. I can still do everything, and I’m excited to do that. There’s going to be more on my plate. Paired up with [Eric] Decker and [Jeremy] Kerley, I’m looking forward to working with those guys, and working in this offense with what [offensive coordinator] Chan Gailey is asking us to do, it’s going to give us more opportunities to make plays.”