Eric Allen from NYJets.com outlines what the New York Jets are offering their restricted free agents.
03/04 — The New York Jets announced today that they will tender contract offers to eight of their 11 restricted free agents.
As previously stated by Jets general manager Mike Tannenbaum, WR Braylon Edwards was given the highest possible tender at first-round and third-round draft selections as potential compensation.
The Jets also placed second-round tenders on RB Leon Washington and WR Brad Smith, original-round tenders on S Eric Smith and T Wayne Hunter (who both entered the NFL as third-rounders) and an original-round tender on S James Ihedigbo. The “Dig” tender will give the club right of first refusal because Ihedigbo, a Massachusetts product, originally entered the league as an undrafted free agent.
Cornerback Drew Coleman was also given an original-round tender, which for him would be sixth-round compensation.
Backup QB Kellen Clemens, a second-round pick out of Oregon in 2006, was given an original tender. But RFA rules state that because the Jets used at least one second-round tender (on both Brad Smith and Washington), they cannot receive second-round compensation for Clemens. If another team signs Clemens to an offer sheet and the Jets elect not to match that offer, the Jets will get that team’s third-round pick.
The Jets could have tendered Clemens at the second-round level, but the tender figure for second-round compensation is higher than for original-round compensation.
Wideout Wallace Wright, LB Marques Murrell and DT Howard Green all had their contracts expire, were not tendered by the Jets, and will become free agents at midnight tonight. The Jets will receive no compensation if any of those three signs with another club.
Here is the discussion thread in our New York Jets forum.