The future of wide receiver Allen Lazard on the New York Jets has been a debate that has moved back and forth over the last few months.
Sunday afternoon may be the first time that a decision has appeared to be made, though.
Speaking to reporters for the first time since the Scouting Combine, Jets general manager Darren Mougey made it clear at league meetings in Florida that the organization was doing everything it could to keep the veteran receiver on the roster in 2025.
Jets Looking To Restructure Allen Lazard
In two seasons with the Jets, Lazard has struggled to show he has been worth the four-year, $44 million deal signed during the 2023 offseason. The former undrafted free agent has 60 catches for 841 yards and seven touchdowns over his two seasons with the Jets.
Despite being a player signed by the previous regime, Mougey has made it clear that the team is willing to rework Lazard’s current contract. While the new general manager called the situation “fluid,” the team and players are “working through” negotiations.
A decision on Lazard won’t need to be made at this point for New York.
The former Green Bay Packers wide receiver is set to make a base salary of $11 million in both 2025 and 2026, with cap numbers of $13.184 million in each season. The Jets could release Lazard now and create over $6 million in cap space.
So, even with Mougey’s comments defending a potential reunion of sorts between the team and receiver, there is no guarantee that Lazard will remain on the team in 2025.
With the draft upcoming, the team still has a while to figure out what to do here.
And Mougey’s comments this week could certainly change as negotiations continue.
