HEADLINES

Bryce Huff

AFC East Notes: Becton, Jets, Howard, Bills

January 19th, 2024 at 12:14pm CST by Sam Robinson

Mekhi Becton‘s quest to solidify himself as the Jets‘ long-term left tackle did not come to fruition, but the injury-prone blocker did finish the season without an IR trip. A few other Jets O-linemen could not say the same. Becton’s contract year consisted of 16 games and starts at both right and left tackle. While the 2020 first-round pick would like to re-sign with the Jets, ESPN.com’s Rich Cimini notes the team is unlikely to have a strong interest in a second contract.

Pro Football Focus graded Becton 68th overall among tackles this season, and Next Gen Stats charged the slimmed-down tackle with 12 sacks allowed. That said, the Jets will need to be aggressive in their pursuit of tackle help this offseason. Duane Brown is 38 and played out a two-year contract. He and Becton departing would leave the Jets with two tackle vacancies, though the team has explored the possibility of shifting Alijah Vera-Tucker to right tackle on a full-time basis. But Vera-Tucker, drafted as a guard, has suffered season-ending injuries in each of the past two years.

Here is the latest from the AFC East:

  • A player the Jets look to have more interest in signing, Bryce Huff, will not stay just because he has developed as a Jet. Pointing to his family and those around him, the young defensive end said (via SNY’s Connor Hughes) he will take the best offer he receives in free agency. The Jets, however, do want to re-sign Huff, per GM Joe Douglas. A former UDFA, Huff broke through in his contract year to lead the team with 10.5 sacks despite not starting any games. The Jets and Huff, who has not graded well as a run defender, discussed an extension during the season. The Jets have first-rounders Jermaine Johnson and Will McDonald, along with John Franklin-Myers, but losing Huff would be a blow for Robert Saleh‘s defense.
  • On the same note, Xavien Howard is unlikely to accept a pay cut to stay with the Dolphins, ProFootballNetwork.com’s Adam Beasley notes. “No matter where I’m going, I’m still going to do my thing,” Howard said. “Whatever comes with it, I’m excited about what will happen.” The Dolphins’ longest-tenured starter, at eight seasons, Howard is signed through 2026 on the contract he agreed to upon voicing issue with Byron Jones out-earning him. Miami gave Howard a five-year, $90MM extension in 2022, but the veteran ballhawk is now 30 and finished the season sidelined with a foot sprain. The Dolphins, who released Jones as a post-June 1 cut last year, can only recoup notable savings by using this designation on Howard. Now employing Jalen Ramsey as its top corner, Miami would save $18.5MM this year by using the post-June 1 designation on Howard.
  • The Bills will be without Gabe Davis in a second playoff game, ruling out the contract-year wideout for their divisional-round game. Davis is battling a PCL sprain, NFL.com’s Ian Rapoport tweets. Davis represents an intriguing free agent-to-be, having scored 14 touchdowns over the past two seasons, but the Bills have seen 2022 fifth-rounder Khalil Shakir emerge as a player capable of being a low-cost Stefon Diggs complement going forward.
  • Additionally, Buffalo has not ruled out Terrel Bernard for its Kansas City rematch. Bernard was carted off the field against the Steelers, but the Bills’ top tackler only suffered a sprained ankle, Rapoport adds. The second-year linebacker aggravated the ankle injury he sustained earlier this season, per the Buffalo News’ Ryan O’Halloran. While the Bills are already without Matt Milano at linebacker, starter Tyrel Dodson — who missed the team’s wild-card game — is on track to return in Round 2.
  • Leonard Floyd collected an additional $1MM by reaching 10 sacks this season, Field Yates of ESPN.com tweets. The May free agency addition signed a one-year, $7MM deal, one that has been vital due to Von Miller‘s struggle to return to form following his second ACL tear. Floyd, 30, totaled a career-high-matching 10.5 sacks this season.

Jets, DE Bryce Huff Discussing Extension

November 3rd, 2023 at 9:50am CST by Adam La Rose

The Jets have a number of high-end contributors along the defensive front, but Bryce Huff has proven to be an unheralded member of the unit. He may be playing his way into an extended stay in New York.

Huff joined the Jets as an undrafted free agent, and he has established himself as a full-time contributor to their edge rush group. The 25-year-old logged seven starts and a 51% snap share in 2021, though his playing time has dipped since then with New York making draft and free agent investments in the pass-rush department. Still, Huff has made the most of his opportunities, having matched his career-highs in sacks (3.5) and pressures (16) in seven games this year.

The Memphis product is playing on his RFA tender this season, valued at $4.3MM. If his production continues, he could be in line for a raise on a multi-year pact, something which would confirm his status as a key member of the Jets’ young edge group. 2022 first-rounder Jermaine Johnson leads the team in sacks, and the Jets’ top pick this past April (Will McDonald) has made six appearances in a rotational role in his rookie campaign. Huff could soon have a deal in place to keep him on the books alongside those two.

“There’s been some informal conversations with Bryce’s representatives and they’re trending in a positive direction,” general manager Joe Douglas said on the topic of an extension (video link via SNY). “Still a long way to go. Bryce is another… unbelievable player development story. For him to come in as an undrafted free agent and just work and work and work and get better every day. I think the last two years you’ve really been able to see a huge progression for him. Everyone’s excited about Bryce.”

New York currently has two signficant financial commitments along the edge in John Franklin-Meyers and Carl Lawson. The latter was on the trade block given his expiring contract and lack of playing time, but no partner was found for a deal. While Lawson will thus play out the rest of the season with the Jets before a likely free agent departure, it appears Huff will have the chance to remain in place beyond 2023 if talks on a new deal continue to progress. 

Minor NFL Transactions: 4/20/23

April 20th, 2023 at 6:39pm CST by Ely Allen

Today’s only minor move:

New York Jets

 

Initially an undrafted pass rusher out of Memphis, Huff will have another year in New York to try and establish a role on the Jets defense. Huff made his presence known after making the 53-man roster as a rookie in 2020 and working himself into the rotation at defensive end. He continued to work hard, earning six starts to open 2021 before a back injury landed him on the inactive list for seven weeks. Since the injury, Huff’s role has been scaled back a bit, but he continues to produce, racking up 3.5 sacks in limited time last year. He’ll be back for Gang Green in 2023 to continue to contribute on defense and special teams.

RFA/ERFA Tender Decisions: 3/13/23

March 13th, 2023 at 11:06pm CST by Ely Allen

Today’s tender decisions from around the NFL:

RFAs

Tendered:

ERFAs

Tendered:

Did not tender:

Minor NFL Transactions: 1/4/22

January 4th, 2022 at 10:43am CST by Zachary Links

Today’s minor moves:

Buffalo Bills

Cleveland Browns

Indianapolis Colts

Kansas City Chiefs

New York Giants

New York Jets

Philadelphia Eagles

Seattle Seahawks

Minor NFL Transactions: 12/18/21

December 18th, 2021 at 1:29pm CST by Zachary Links

Today’s minor moves:

Arizona Cardinals

Atlanta Falcons

Baltimore Ravens

Carolina Panthers

Chicago Bears

Cincinnati Bengals

Cleveland Browns

Dallas Cowboys

Detroit Lions

Green Bay Packers

Houston Texans

Indianapolis Colts

Jacksonville Jaguars

Los Angeles Rams

Miami Dolphins

New England Patriots

New Orleans Saints

New York Giants

New York Jets

Pittsburgh Steelers

San Francisco 49ers

Tennessee Titans

Minor NFL Transactions: 11/4/21

November 4th, 2021 at 3:43pm CST by Zachary Links

Today’s minor moves:

Houston Texans

Las Vegas Raiders

  • Promoted: WR Dillon Stoner

New York Giants

New York Jets

Washington Football Team

Jets Sign 9 Undrafted Free Agents

May 9th, 2020 at 1:58pm CST by Sam Robinson

In this unusual offseason, teams’ UDFA classes are emerging at a slower pace. The Jets have announced theirs. Here is Gang Green’s full list:

Both wide receivers the Jets drafted transferred from other Division I-FBS schools before the 2019 season, with Cager spending most of his college career at Miami and Campbell playing at Florida State for much of his. Both will look the part in Jets camp. Cager is 6-foot-5; Campbell goes 6-4. Campbell had by far his most productive college season in 2019, averaging 24.7 yards per catch and leading the Mountaineers with seven touchdown grabs. Cager caught a career-high 33 passes in his Hurricanes season, turning those into 476 yards. The Jets drafted one wide receiver and declared Quincy Enunwa out for the year.

Hilbers was the Huskies’ starting left tackle in 2018 but lined up at right tackle last season. Huff led Memphis in sacks over the past two seasons. He recorded 9.5 as a junior to go along with 19.5 tackles for loss. Prior to moving to the Huskers’ defensive backfield and becoming a three-year starter, Jackson was a high-end high school quarterback recruit. He ranked higher than the NFL’s other Lamar Jackson in that regard.

A top-10 cornerback recruit out of high school, Carter started two years as a safety for the Crimson Tide. He returned two interceptions for scores in 2018. Guidry brings an intriguing athletic profile. The ex-high school sprint phenom’s 4.29-second 40-yard dash time trailed only Henry Ruggs‘ at the Combine. While the top pros in U.S. sprinting often do not compete at the Indoor Track and Field Championships, Guidry placed sixth in the 60-meter dash at the 2019 U.S. meet — despite Utah not having a men’s track team. On the field, the 5-9 corner started 25 games with the Utes. The Jets drafted one corner, Virginia’s Bryce Hall, this year.