Jets releasing guard Laken Tomlinson, source says

The Jets, in their first big move on the offensive line of the offseason,

are releasing veteran left guard Laken Tomlinson, a league source confirmed. They have informed Tomlinson that he is being waived.

This doesn’t come as much of a surprise. The Jets either were going to restructure Tomlinson’s contract or release him.

Tomlinson’s cap number for this season was $18.8 million. By waiving him, the Jets will clear $8.14 million. They now will have more than $20 million to spend in free agency, according to overthecap.com. That number is expected to increase dramatically when they release more players and restructure contracts.

The Jets signed Tomlinson to a three-year, $40 million contract in 2022. He was the only Jets offensive lineman to appear in every game last season and also played in 17 games in his first season with the Jets. Overall, though, he wasn’t as effective as he had been when he was a Pro Bowl player with San Francisco.

This is the first of many moves the Jets are expected to make to address their offensive line, which underperformed last season and was weakened by injuries. The Jets started 13 different offensive line combinations in 17 games.

Tackles Mekhi Becton and Duane Brown are heading for free agency and unlikely to return. The starters under contract are guard-tackle Alijah Vera-Tucker (returning from a torn Achilles tendon) and center-guard Joe Tippmann.

The Jets will be very aggressive in free agency. David Bahktiari — Aaron Rodgers’ former tackle in Green Bay and close friend — Tyron Smith, Trent Brown and Mike Onwenu could be options. The Jets also have the No. 10 pick in the draft and could use it on a tackle. Taliese Fuaga of Oregon State or Alabama’s JC Latham are possible options.

By Al Iannazzone

al.iannazzone@newsday.comAl_Iannazzone

Al Iannazzone covers the Jets for Newsday after spending nearly two decades on the NBA beat with Knicks and Nets.