SATURDAY, 1:58pm: According to Ian Rapaport of NFL.com, the Cumberland contract will be for three years and $3.7MM with $1MM guaranteed (via Twitter).
FRIDY, 7:41pm: The New York Jets and tight end Jeff Cumberland have agreed to a three-year contract, according to Manish Mehta of the New York Daily News. Mehta had reported earlier today that the Jets were engaged in “serious negotiations” with Cumberland.
The organization has expressed significant confidence in Cumberland heading into the 2014 season. After signing with the Jets as an undrafted free agent out of the University of Illinois, Cumberland finally began to show flashes of prominence in the tail end of the 2013 campaign. Although he had played largely in a secondary role to Kellen Winslow this past year, Cumberland still hauled in 26 receptions for 398 yards and four touchdowns.
Mehta also reports (via Twitter) that the Jets re-signing of Cumberland doesn’t mean the Jets won’t still explore other free agent tight end options, such as Brandon Pettigrew, Ed Dickson, and Scott Chandler. The Jets also figure to target high-value receiving talent in free agency next week, having been linked to Emmanuel Sanders and Jeremy Maclin, before he re-signed with the Eagles