John Franklin-Myers reportedly back for four more seasons
Per DJ Bien-Aime of the New York Daily News, the New York Jets have agreed to a contract extension with defensive lineman John Franklin-Myers.
John Franklin-Myers is signing an extension with the Jets per source
— DJ Bien-Aime (@Djbienaime) October 7, 2021
A further report from Brad Spielberger of Pro Football Focus reveals that a new four-year extension worth $55 million ($30 million guaranteed) will keep Franklin-Myers in green through the 2025 season.
New York Jets defensive end John Franklin-Myers signed a four-year, $55 million extension ($13.75M per year) with $30 million in total guarantees
— Brad Spielberger, Esq. (@PFF_Brad) October 8, 2021
The total of $30 million guaranteed equals that of teammate Carl Lawson, tying the pair for 20th-most among edge rushers, per Over The Cap. Franklin-Myers’ average of $13.8 million per year also ranks 20th at the position.
With this reported extension, Franklin-Myers will continue a Jets career that began in 2019 after he was claimed off waivers by Joe Douglas. Franklin-Myers entered the league as a fourth-round pick of the NFC Champion Los Angeles Rams the year before. He notably earned a sack of Tom Brady in the Rams’ Super Bowl visit before he was part of their final cuts of training camp.
John Franklin-Myers is here to stay 🔥 pic.twitter.com/htbZIo9ibM
— Optimistic Jets (@OptimisticJets) October 7, 2021
Franklin-Myers spent his first metropolitan season on injured reserve but impressed observers when he was pressed into service during the 2020 season, posting career-bests with 19 tackles (5 for a loss) and three sacks. He was a menacing producer of pressure, ranking third-best among all qualified defensive tackles in the NFL as he created pressure on 14.4% of his pass-rush snaps.
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The Stephen F. Austin product has converted full-time to the edge in 2021 after operating from the interior in 2020 and is enjoying a smooth transition. Franklin-Myers has already tied or approached his 2020 numbers this season with 15 tackles and three sacks over the first four games of 2021.
Franklin-Myers has collected 17 pressures off the left side of the defensive line, tying him with Cameron Jordan, Micah Parsons, and Von Miller for fifth-most in the NFL among edge rushers through four weeks.
Sunday’s win over Tennessee was earned thanks in part to Franklin-Myers’ constant invasions of the Titans’ backfield, as he earned four tackles and a sack while tying Myles Garrett for the most pressures of any player in Week 4 with nine. New York (1-3) won 27-24 in overtime, earning its first victory of the season.
“He’s one of those guys that there’s been times in his career where he majored as an outside rusher, there’s times in his career where he was primarily an inside rusher,” Jets defensive coordinator Jeff Ulbrich said of Franklin-Myers in September.
“I think the best way to utilize his skillset is a little bit of both, and that’s what we’re trying to feature with him. When he has an opportunity to do a little bit of both, he’s very dynamic in that way, because he’s got maybe a little bit more power than a traditional edge guy, so he can overwhelm a tackle in some ways.”
Franklin-Myers has been at the forefront of the Jets’ defensive revolution, one that has earned 13 sacks, tied for fourth-best in the NFL.
Upon landing in London for the Jets’ Sunday morning tilt against the Atlanta Falcons (9:30 a.m. ET, NFL Network), Franklin-Myers seemingly confirmed the news when he thanked his agent Clifford Brady, who wished his client luck with a photo of the defender wearing a T-shirt bearing the text “91.0 JFM QB Hits”.
Best Agent in the world‼️ https://t.co/t2OtI55gVg
— John Franklin-Myers (@J_FranklinMyers) October 8, 2021
Franklin-Myers will square off with Falcons right tackle Kaleb McGary at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on Sunday. McGary is tied for the 10th-most pressures allowed among right tackles this season (11).
Geoff Magliocchetti is on Twitter @GeoffJMags
