Great source, thanks for the link. I pretty much agree with your list of cuts. Jenkins is definitely a goner, Taylor and LT too probably since they're both done, and Woody and Thomas have to be in danger with those cap figures, if there's any kind of a squeeze. Even if all those guys get cut, though, how much money can the Jets realistically lock in at WR with all of the guys that they still need to sign to get back to a full roster? Even if they go with the Colts model and fill out the entire bottom of the roster with minimum salary guys, you're still looking at $101M committed with fairly pressing needs at LG, RT, OLB, ILB (gotta re-sign Harris), WR1, WR2, RB2, CB2, DE... (if you assume that Wilson's the slot guy, and even if you don't, it's a gamble to assume that he can move outside when he hasn't shown much of anything anywhere on the field yet).
Are you assuming that Pitoitua can replace Ellis, McKnight can jump into the RB rotation, and Ducasse can slide in to RT? Even if all of that works, you still have to sign Harris to a pretty big contract,and it seems sensible that Edwards/Holmes and Cotchery is a solid 1/2 at WR, and it's easier to find a WR3 than, say, a CB2 or a starter-caliber OLB. If you figure that combined Holmes/Edwards would carry a cap hit of around $15M (that's around where I'd ballpark it, but you might disagree), then I'm not sure how they can swing that while maintaining the defensive talent to execute the gameplan that they did on the Pats last week.
I dunno, you obviously know your team a lot better than I do, but it seems to me that whether or not they can sign both Holmes and Edwards, it probably wouldn't be the wisest use of what's likely to be very limited cap space. But I do know that folks around here have been predicting the Jets' descent into cap hell for 3-4 years and running, never seeming to account for the fact that the Jets can/will cut some overpaid veterans to free up room. They're certainly not in good cap shape, but I'd agree with you that it's not nearly as bad as a lot of people here are making it out to be.
The only needs at LG, and RT are depth. Wayne Hunter RT(D. Woody's back up) has proven to the NFL he can start. He destroyed Peppers(not 1 on 1 everytime of course) and did very well against the Steelers twice.
LG Matt Slauson after week 1 (when Ngata blew him up on 2 plays) has been very consistent. He is also a solid starter.
Ducasse was Slauson in 2009. He wont have to start next year since it seems obvious by Jets beat reporters(and Wayne Hunter on Twitter himself @uso099) that Wayne Hunter will start at Right Tackle.
Ducasse will get another year of learning/training to be an offensive linemen(unless injury of course) Just like Slauson did.
Harris is an issue, but I'm not sure how much $$ he will require. He cannot cover, but is excellent at run stopping, and is a hard hitter. (didn't do well against Mendenhall though..sunday..) I don't think the Jets will let Harris go.
We have some guys on the Practice squad who were high draft picks let go at DE/OLB that all I heard of them was good. Now obviously I cant take that so seriously...since you rarely hear bad things about PSquad players from a team.
OLB is a MAJOR issue. We have nobody whom can beat their man 1 on 1 at a consistent basis, and that's embarrassing. Calvin Pace week 3 preseason broke his foot, and that screwed us. Pace isnt really that good anyway though.
Jamaal Westerman, and Josh Mauga are pretty okay guys that the jets have been developing as OLB/ILB.
Pitoitua may be able to replace Ellis, but I think Ellis will give it one more go on the cheap. Also Jarron Gilbert(dude who is famous for jumping out of a pool on youtube lol), and Marcus Dixon have gotten some playing time this year, and done well in a MINOR rotation role on the DLINE.
Bottom line is Holmes/Edwards most likely will be difficult, but it seems doable.
Those are 4 players who contributed an awful lot to your team this year, plus Jenkins, that you are cutting and seemingly thinking wont matter. Plus Smith plus Cromartie, and you are still over 100mill of cap cost with something like 25 legitimate players signed.
Smith only got on the field, because Jim Leonhard went down. Well actually he started once opposite Leonhard, because Pool didn't fully know the system.
Jenkins hasnt contributed **** the past 2 years. Damien Woody is done, and we have a backup check. Bryan Thomas is one of the slowest OLB in the league. Jason Taylor sucks.
Cromartie indeed is another issue. The thing with him though is he loves upfront guaranteed $$. If the Jets can get him for another year, or two and front load the deal.. I think he will stay. He needs the $ ASAP to feed those kids.
