The New York Jets have undergone a host of changes this offseason, both on and off the field, with personnel seeing the most significant changes.
Aaron Rodgers, C.J. Mosley and Davante Adams headline the outgoings, with the franchise looking for a clean slate in 2025 under new head coach Aaron Glenn.
But for all the moves that have been made this offseason, Allen Lazard remains on the roster.
After signing a four-year, $44 million deal, Lazard, who is just two seasons into it, hasn't lived up to the price tag, with many thinking it is inevitable that the receiver will be moved on. So why hasn't he?
ESPN's Rich Cimini, who was speaking on the "Flight Deck" podcast, detailed that while he would try to find a way to keep Lazard, he also revealed why the receiver is still on the roster.
"I would try to find a way to keep Allen Lazard, but I don't think that's gonna happen," Cimini said. "I think they're probably gonna cut him after June 1. Now you're thinking, why didn't they just make him a June 1 cut already?
"Well, you're only allowed two of those designations before June 1, and they used it on Aaron Rodgers and CJ Mosley. So now you literally have to wait until June 1 to make a guy a June 1 cut, and if they do that with Lazard, they would save $11 million on this year's cap as opposed to $6.6 (million), and then they would be able to spread it over two years."
Is there a world in which Lazard stays? Given the lack of weapons behind Garrett Wilson, there is a possibility, but with Cimini outlining how much the Jets could save by moving on, we get the sense it is only a matter of time.
Just 841 yards and seven touchdowns in two seasons from a receiver earning roughly $11 million APY isn't enough, and with the direction the Jets are going, can they afford to have a receiver like that on the roster? Likely not.
So Lazard remains a Jet, and when June 1 rolls around, it will be an interesting watch to see how the franchise moves, but we get the sense it is only a matter of time before Lazard hits the free agent market.
