Contract details have been revealed for many of the New York Jets’ 2025 free agent signings.
First-year general manager Darren Mougey clearly had a goal in mind entering his debut free agency period: maintaining long-term flexibility. On Wednesday, ESPN’s Rich Cimini reported the previously unknown contract details of 10 free agent signings, and all of them are one-year deals.
The following Jets contract details were revealed (sorted by guaranteed money):
- S Andre Cisco: 1 year, $8.5M ($7.5M guaranteed)
- S Isaiah Oliver: 1 year, $2.5M ($2.25M guaranteed)
- RB Kene Nwangwu: 1 year, $1.4M ($550K guaranteed)
- DT Derrick Nnadi: 1 year, $1.4M ($418K guaranteed)
- WR Tyler Johnson: 1 year, $1.3M ($368K guaranteed)
- CB Kris Boyd: 1 year, $1.6M ($330K guaranteed)
- TE Stone Smartt: 1 year, $1.35M ($250K guaranteed)
- LB Jamin Davis: 1 year, $1.3M ($168K guaranteed)
- EDGE Reshad Weaver: 1 year, $1.2M ($0 guaranteed)
- DT Jay Tufele: 1 year, $1.2M ($0 guaranteed)
Takeaways
Andre Cisco’s contract was initially reported as a one-year, $10 million deal; it is still possible that Cisco’s deal could be worth up to $10 million with incentives, but we now know that his base salary is $8.5 million. This places him 19th among safeties in terms of average annual value, which is only two spots lower than where he would have ranked at $10 million.
The fifth-year safety is coming off a down year in which he allowed a career-high three touchdowns to just one interception. However, he is only 25 years old and has showcased an impressive ceiling as a ball hawk. From 2022-23, Cisco tied for fourth among safeties with seven interceptions, allowing just four touchdowns in comparison.
Cisco’s contract is a great value for the ceiling he brings to the table, while it protects the Jets from long-term risk in case Cisco does not bounce back from his 2024 struggles. The concern is that if Cisco does return to his previous heights, the Jets will have to compete with the rest of the league to sign him back in 2026 (barring a franchise tag).
The Jets appear confident in Isaiah Oliver’s abilities as a backup defensive back, considering the majority of his $2.5 million salary is guaranteed. Oliver logged 576 defensive snaps across all 17 games for the Jets in 2024, including seven starts. He is capable of backing up multiple roles, making four starts at slot cornerback and three at strong safety.
Outside of Cisco and Oliver, the rest of these contracts indicate that the players will have to compete for roster spots. Each receiving less than $600K guaranteed on a one-year contract, the Jets are not committed to keeping any of them on the 53-man roster if they do not earn their keep.
The numbers for Derrick Nnadi, Stone Smartt, and Tyler Johnson are particularly interesting.
As we discussed in a breakdown published earlier today, Nnadi’s 87 career starts for a perennial Super Bowl contender might indicate that he is starting material, but his resume of consistently poor production suggests otherwise. Wednesday’s report confirms that Mougey and the Jets wisely signed Nnadi to a low-commitment contract.
The Jets will give Nnadi a chance to show them why Kansas City believed so strongly in him despite his lackluster statistics. If he fails to stand out, they can cut ties with minimal repercussions. It is a worthwhile dice roll by Mougey. Additionally, since the deal shows that New York does not view Nnadi as a surefire member of their depth chart, it confirms that the defensive tackle position remains a gaping hole that must be addressed this offseason, particularly regarding run-stuffing skills.
Smartt and Johnson are pass-catchers who have struggled to carve out roles in the NFL, but they each displayed intriguing upside on a per-opportunity basis in their small roles during the 2024 season. Both aged 26 years old, they are young enough to potentially have some untapped potential left in the tank. They are excellent players to roll the dice on. Wisely, though, the Jets are not relying on either player, as they were each given under $400K guaranteed.
Mougey seems to know the Jets are not poised to go very far in the 2025 season. He is structuring his contracts accordingly, ensuring the team will maintain its flexibility to improve in 2026 and beyond.
