Allen Lazard‘s time with the Jets seemed to be coming to an end earlier this offseason. Not long after granting the veteran receiver permission to seek a trade, however, it became clear New York would attempt to keep Lazard in the fold via a restructure. 
That effort has now produced an agreement. Team and player have a new arrangement in place, Over the Cap’s Jason Fitzgerald reports. Originally scheduled to earn $11MM this year, Lazard will take an $8.5MM pay cut for 2025. $1.75MM of his new base salary is guaranteed, and ESPN’s Adam Schefter adds $2.5MM in incentives are in place to allow him to earn back some of his previously-owed compensation. The 29-year-old’s cap charge will drop to $4.6MM for this season.
Notably, today’s new deal also sets Lazard up for free agency after the 2025 campaign. The former UDFA originally had two years left on his pact, but he will now hit the open market next spring. Lazard’s debut Jets campaign fell well short of expectations, but he rebounded to an extent in 2024 with 530 yards and six touchdowns on 37 catches. Former Packers teammate Aaron Rodgers is no longer New York’s quarterback, but Lazard will have a role on offense as Justin Fields takes on starting duties.
The Jets’ midseason Davante Adams acquisition did not spark a run to the postseason, and as expected the All-Pro was released last month. That move leaves Garrett Wilson in line to serve as the focal point of the team’s passing attack, and he represents one of New York’s top extension candidates. Free agent addition Josh Reynolds and 2024 third-rounder Malachi Corley will be joined by Lazard in 2025 as secondary receiving options.
Once the latter’s contract voids, his 2026 cap charge will be $4.37MM. A departure next spring would still come as no surprise given the new Jets regime which is in place, but Lazard will have one more year in the Big Apple to help his free agent value.
Jets: “Hey Aaron, you left this here, do you need it?”
AR: “Nah you can just throw that away”
What’s with these unnecessarily disrespectful comments from people who couldn’t last five minutes in professional sports?
For bringing in a running quarterback, having one of the best blocking receivers in the game is worth that base salary alone. Good deal for both sides.
If you’re going to have stone hands, you’d better be able to block with them.
Stone hands? He’s literally only had one season in his entire career with a catch percentage under 60.
Some of the comments you people make are absolutely absurd.
His drops are a huge problem tho
Or maybe they’re magnified because of the team around him.
He’s not supposed to be your #1 but he’s a more than reliable #3.
Yes and no. Good for a WR 3, yeah, but the drop problem is all him and its a problem
Under 60% is catastrophic. When’s the last time he had a catch percentage in the top 50 in the league? Last year he was top 20 in the league in drops and only one player ahead of him had fewer targets. Almost everyone with as many drops as him had way, way more targets. I’m also a Jets fan who watches every game and can tell you a whole lot of very catchable passes bounced off his hands in the last two years.
$11M more than what they should be paying him.
“Restructure or you’re fired”
The jets overpaid
I’m not sure why he didn’t force the Jets to cut him. Taking that big of a hit to play on what is sure to be a subpar team when he could have gotten as much signing with a contender.
What contender was going to sign him for a couple million guaranteed?
Smart of the Jets to find a way to keep Lazard.
You need reliable veteran receivers if you want your QB to be effective or grow as a passer.