Jets cut Braxton Berrios in first major cap-saving move of offseason | What it means

The Jets must clear salary cap space before free agency, and to make room for any trades they might be involved in in the coming days. So it was no surprise on Thursday when the team decided to cut wide receiver and returner Braxton Berrios.

The move will save them $5 million in cap space.

Berrios signed a two-year, $12 million deal last year to stay with the Jets when he hit free agency. He was coming off a standout 2021 season, especially as a returner – he was named an AP first-team, All-Pro.

But Berrios struggled in 2022 with the Jets, finishing with just 18 catches for 145 yards and no touchdowns. And he didn’t make the same impact as a returner. So he was always going to be a prime candidate to have his contract restructured or be cut this season.

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The Jets tried to restructure his contract, according to ESPN – he was set to make $5.5 million in 2023 and count $8.2 million against the cap – but ultimately they couldn’t come to an agreement and the Jets decided to move on from Berrios.

They’ll carry $3.2 million in dead cap space next season because of the deal. And that’s because the Jets reached in a big way last year when they gave Berrios a two-year contract with $7 million guaranteed and an annual value of $6 million per year.

Berrios never established himself as a reliable option in the offense in his first three seasons with the Jets (his career highs are 46 catches, 431 receiving yards and three touchdowns. And the his fourth season was no exception. His most memorable moment of this season, unfortunately for him an the Jets, was his inability to haul in a short pass from Mike White in Minnesota that likely would have won the Jets the game, and potentially changed their playoff fate. Instead, it was the first of six straight losses to end the season.

And while he was very good in the return game, NFL teams don’t typically invest that kind of money in players who can’t also contribute consistently to the offense for a reason: it doesn’t make sense. But the Jets were under immense pressure to keep him because he was popular in the fan base. Now, they’re moving on and you won’t find many fans complaining.

That’s nothing against Berrios, who was respected and well-liked in the locker room and accountable when he made mistakes. It’s just the way it is. The Jets won’t be losing anything they can’t replace in the offense with Elijah Moore likely to play a bigger role in the slot. The move probably works out better for Berrios, too. He won’t get paid anywhere near the money he just made in 2023 elsewhere, but he is more likely to get an opportunity to prove that he can contribute to an offense. And at 27 there’s still time for him to do that.

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Andy Vasquez may be reached at avasquez@njadvancemedia.com.