After claiming Nate Herbig off waivers from the Eagles, the Jets jettisoned one of their experienced blockers and saved some money. They cut Greg Van Roten on Friday.
Van Roten’s release represents the Jets’ corresponding move for the waiver claim; the veteran starter will head straight to free agency. Van Roten, 32, had started 23 games for the Jets over the past two seasons but was no longer in line to be a first-stringer, with the team having signed Laken Tomlinson in free agency.
While this release saves the Jets $3.5MM, it cuts into their newly solid depth on their interior offensive line. Herbig and Dan Feeney represent the team’s top interior backup options. Van Roten, however, arrived prior to Robert Saleh and OC Mike LaFleur‘s arrivals. Tomlinson is set to team with 2021 first-round pick Alijah Vera-Tucker, with Connor McGovern still under contract at center.
The Jets signed Van Roten during the same offseason they landed McGovern, giving the ex-Panther blocker a three-year deal worth $10.5MM. He was set to earn a nonguaranteed $3MM this season. A New York native who emerged as a UDFA out of Penn, Van Roten has made 50 career starts — all since 2018. Pro Football Focus rated Van Roten as a middling guard last season; he figures to have a shot elsewhere at some point before the season.
He will not be missed, except maybe by opposing interior pass rushers.
You could put just about any veteran OG/T worth a damn and I’d cheerlead for the Broncos to sign him. People keep talking about how they haven’t had a QB in years. They have had a soggy OL for the same timeframe.
Jets should be stoked. They are young and going to be good competition if their QB can hold together and perform. They have a good GM and head coach.
Correct!! It isnt a coincidence everyone they’ve brought in at QB has struggled, despite having adequate weapons around them..Each of the previous QBs have had to race through their progressions, and had to throw in a crowded pocket with chaotic traffic around them..
On the bright side though, I think Russ only throws directly from the pocket like 4-5 times a game, so maybe it might not affect him as much..lol
I guess it was inevitable. He was awful last year, but he still has talent and wasn’t graded poorly by PFF. It sucks that he’s a local guy that was shown the door but I guess it was a matter of time.
Imagine being released by the Jets? That’s gotta leave a mark on your self esteem.
How do you think he felt when he signed with them?
49ers couodnsign him to compete with Banks, Moore, Brunskill, and their new draft picks/UDFAs for either one of their open Guard spots…
I have to trust Kyle.on this one though, and pray he knows what he’s doing starting Banks at LG. When he was tried out at RG last season, Banks looked nothing short of a PS player, he certainly didn’t have the look of a future starter. Plus, then he went down with an injury, so it isn’t like he got alot of reps after that either…/: