AFC East Notes: Jets, Forte, Dolphins, Ajayi

The Jets have some major decisions to make on players this offseason, including troubled wide receiver Robby Anderson. Anderson’s embarrassing arrest last week has put his spot in jeopardy, but Andy Vasquez of The Bergen Record expects him to get another chance given his enormous potential. Vasquez estimates that the same can’t be said for players who have underperformed, like quarterbacks Christian Hackenberg and Bryce Petty.

Beyond those players, the Jets will have some opportunities to save cash by cutting some pricey veterans. Vasquez anticipates that receiver Jermaine Kearse ($5.55MM non-guaranteed), cornerback Buster Skrine ($8.5MM cap hit, $2.5MM dead money), and guard James Carpenter ($6.8MM hit, $2.1MM dead money) will stay on board. Meanwhile, tackle Ben Ijalana ($6MM hit, $1.25MM dead money) and running back Matt Forte ($4MM hit, $1MM dead money) are likely goners. Defensive lineman Muhammad Wilkerson, who has disappointed in back to back seasons, will almost certainly be cut, even though the Jets will carry $9MM in dead money against $11MM in savings.

Here’s more from the AFC East:

  • Jay Ajayi has found success with the Eagles, but that doesn’t mean the Dolphins were wrong to trade him, Roy Cummings of Florida Football Insiders opines. It’s easy to forget, but Ajayi was shipped out of Miami for his perceived lack of work ethic and desire to improve his pass blocking. Meanwhile, the Dolphins still have Kenyan Drake and Damien Williams, who are better blockers and better pass catchers than Ajayi. Drake ran for more than 600+ yards and had two 100-yard games over the last nine games of the season after the trade, illustrating that coach Adam Gase & Co. may have made the right call by dealing Ajayi for a fourth-round pick.
  • The NFL continues to review accusations by Jaguars defensive end Yannick Ngakoue that Bills guard Richie Incognito used racial slurs in a Jan. 7 playoff game (Twitter link via Mike Rodak of ESPN.com). A report this week indicated that the league had wrapped up its investigation and that the offensive lineman was “not expected” to be disciplined. Incognito is under contract with Buffalo for 2018, but given his history, the lineman’s roster spot could be in jeopardy if the NFL finds credence in Ngakoue’s claims.
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