New York Jets release Henry Anderson, save $8.2 million in cap space

The New York Jets have released defensive lineman Henry Anderson and save a cool $8.2 million in cap space for 2021.

Everybody thought it was only a matter of time before the New York Jets cut veteran defensive lineman Henry Anderson. Not everybody thought it would happen this early.

The Jets cut the 29-year-old Stanford product Tuesday night, per Eric Allen of the team’s official website.

We've released DL Henry Anderson.

— New York Jets (@nyjets) March 3, 2021

Unfortunately for Anderson, the NFL is a numbers game. More specifically, it’s a numbers game that deals with dollars and cents.

The move saves Joe Douglas and the Jets a cool $8.2 million in cap space for 2021, per OverTheCap. New York will be forced to take on $1.33 million in dead space, but Anderson’s hefty salary puts the team in the net-positive column by a wide margin.

Anderson arrived in New Jersey prior to the 2018 season, courtesy of a trade that sent him here for the 235th overall pick in the 2018 NFL draft. Although he made a significant impact under Todd Bowles in his first Jet campaign—seven sacks and 16 quarterback hits in 16 games—Anderson’s production slipped.

In 2019, Anderson mustered just one sack and nine quarterback hits in 13 games under Gregg Williams. Thanks to a lack of an edge presence, Williams used the near-300-pound Anderson outside frequently.

That didn’t do the man any favors. And although he played the edge less frequently this past season, Anderson couldn’t bounce back. He registered just 0.5 sack and three quarterback hits in 16 games (eight games started).

Anderson finishes his New York Jets career with 8.5 sacks, 28 quarterback hits and 14 tackles for loss in 45 games spanning three seasons.