With free agency about to get under way, it looks as if Mike Maccagnan and the Jets are playing hardball with one of their own pending free agents in tight end Austin Seferian-Jenkins.
The team reportedly offered Seferian-Jenkins $8 million over two years at the conclusion of the 2017 season but the tight end turned it down in hopes of getting the Jets to come up to the $6-7 million per year mark. So far, the Jets have reportedly stayed at the same number they offered months ago.
Jets beat writer Connor Hughes is reporting that the Jets haven’t budged, which should increase the likelihood of his departure. As it turns out, Seferian-Jenkins is starting to visit teams who are showing an interest.
Time will tell if the Jets approach is right with Seferian-Jenkins, but in viewing his production last season (357 yds, 3 TD’s), it’s hard to fault the team for refusing to pay more than what they believe he’s worth.
The one caveat however, is that Seferian-Jenkins played a career-high 653 snaps and went from Josh McCown to Bryce Petty at quarterback late in the season. Fatigue and poor quarterback play bout could have been a factors in his disappearance in the second half of the year when he hauled in just 24 receptions without a touchdown over the final 8 games of the season.