The Jets will have a kicking competition once training camp begins in July.
On Friday, Gang Green released veteran kicker Greg Zuerlein after three seasons with the team.
The move isn’t a huge surprise after the team also released punter Thomas Morstead earlier this week.
Zuerlein, 37, was one of the most productive players during his first two seasons with the Jets. In 2022, he was successful on 30-of-37 of his field goals and 28-of-29 extra points. He followed that up with an even better season in 2023 (35-of-38 on field goals and 15-of-16 extra points).
That success led to the Jets giving Zuerlein a two-year, $8.4 million contract, including $4.2 million in guarantees last year, which was the largest contract the Jets have ever given a kicker.
However, he had a miserable 2024 season.
Zuerlein made only 9-of-15 attempts last season — a 60% conversion rate, which was a career-low. He missed a potential game winner from 50 yards in the final seconds in a one-point loss to the Broncos in Week 4. He was also unsuccessful from 32 and 43 yards in a three-point loss against the Bills in Week 6.
The Jets placed Zuerlein on injured reserve last October after he suffered a knee injury. They activated him off injured reserve on Dec. 20, and Zuerlein returned to practice. However, he was placed on injured reserve again on Dec. 28 ahead of the Jets’ Week 17 game against the Bills and missed the rest of the season.
After releasing Zuerlein, the Jets will take a $2.3 million dead money salary cap hit and add $2.42 million in cap savings. He was due to make $4.1 million in the final year of his contract.
The Jets, under first-year coach Aaron Glenn and Darren Mougey, have been on a youth movement this offseason. In addition to Morstead, the Jets have also dumped Aaron Rodgers, wide receiver Davante Adams, and linebacker C.J. Mosley.
Gang Green currently has two kickers on its roster: rookie Caden Davis and Anders Carlson. After Zuerlein went down, Carlson converted 8-of-10 field goals for the Jets last season.
In a corresponding move, the Jets signed defensive end Michael Fletcher, who played in college at Michigan State and Appalachian State.
