FLORHAM PARK, NJ – In a cost-cutting move, the New York Jets released defensive veteran Henry Anderson on Tuesday, who started 24 games for them in the past three seasons.
By reducing Anderson, who earned a $ 9.5 million cap, the Jets will save $ 8.2 million, the amount of their unsecured base salary. The remaining $ 1.3 million will remain as a “dead” charge.
This provides the Jets with more than $ 75 million in boundary space as they prepare for a free agency.
Anderson, 29, was a key player in his defensive rotation. In 2019 and 20, he played more snapshots (942) than all the Jets linebackers except Quinnen Williams. The Jets can absorb the loss because the defensive line is one of the few areas where their depth is solid.
The Jets made a cunning trade to acquire Anderson during the 2018 draft, sending a seventh-round pick to the Indianapolis Colts. He flourished in New York, recording seven top career sacks in the final year of his rookie contract.
Anderson transformed his big year into a three-year, $ 25.2 million contract, with $ 17 million in guarantees for the first two years. Since the contract, his sack production has dropped dramatically, just 1.5 in the last 29 games. He played every game in 2020 and finished with a total of 42 attacks.
Anderson recorded the third-highest percentage of runs among defensive players with at least 500 catches, according to NFL NextGen statistics.