Jets offload John Franklin-Myers' contract for sixth-round pick
Jets defensive end John Franklin-Myers (91) reacts after sacking Los Angeles Chargers quarterback Justin Herbert during the second quarter of an NFL football game, Monday, Nov. 6, 2023, in East Rutherford, N.J. Credit: AP/Seth Wenig
FLORHAM PARK, N.J. — The Jets’ defensive line got a little weaker on Saturday.
Defensive end John Franklin-Myers was traded to Denver for a 2026 sixth-round pick. Money was the main reason for the move, as it will open about $7.3 million in cap space.
Franklin-Myers, whose cap number this season is $16.3 million, became expendable when the Jets acquired edge rusher Haason Reddick from Philadelphia. The Jets are expected to work on a new contract for Reddick, who is owed $15 million this year.
Jets general manager Joe Douglas said he tried to rework Franklin-Myers deal but the “gap was too far for us to bridge.” The Jets and Broncos completed the deal Saturday.
“That was a difficult one,” Douglas said. “When we made the trade for Haason, we knew it was going to be next-to-impossible to keep JFM . . . That’s a difficult one because I can’t tell you how much I love JFM as a person and player.”
This trade had been in the works for some time and explains Franklin-Myers’ cryptic tweet from Friday when he wrote: “Life’s a trampoline, I’m gonna bounce back regardless.”
Over the past three seasons, Franklin-Myers started 50 games for the Jets. His departure leaves them a little thinner on the outside, where Reddick and Jermaine Johnson will start. It also should open up more playing time for Will McDonald, their first-round pick last year, and Micheal Clemons.
The Jets signed Franklin-Myers in 2019 after he was waived by the Rams and signed him to a four-year, $55 million extension in 2021. Franklin-Myers reportedly restructured his contract with the Broncos.
Franklin-Myers played 65 games for the Jets and recorded 125 tackles, 17.5 sacks, 21 tackles for loss and 61 quarterback hits.
“It’s the unfortunate part of the business being able to keep him,” Douglas said. “Denver got a hell of a player.”
This is the second trade that the Jets and Broncos worked out in less than a week. Zach Wilson was dealt to Denver on Tuesday.
Al Iannazzone covers the Jets for Newsday after spending nearly two decades on the NBA beat with Knicks and Nets.
