New York Jets, Brian Winters Agree To Contract Extension

The New York Jets and offensive lineman Brian Winters agreed to a four-year contract extension.

The New York Jets are looking ahead to a very busy offseason. A roster upheaval is expected to occur as many veterans should be handed their walking papers. It is a make or break year for Mike Maccagnan and Todd Bowles as they enter year three of their partnership.

They got their offseason plans started early, as they agreed to a contract extension with right guard Brian Winters. The Jets and Winters agreed to a four-year deal according to ESPN New York’s Rich Cimini. Monetary values were not yet released, but Cimini reports that early word is Winters will make at least $7 million annually.

It was a good move on the Jets part to lock Winters up before he hit free agency. Winters, who is 25-years old, was expected to be one of the most sought after guards on the market this offseason. The torn rotator cuff was a blessing in disguise of sorts for the Jets.

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While Winters’ durability is further questioned because of the injury, they were probably able to lock him up for a little cheaper as a result. Had Winters hit the open market healthy, he would have probably received a more lucrative offer from a team desperate for offensive line help. The Jets avoided that problem by giving him a competitive offer before free agency begins and now one of the top things on their to-do list is completed.

In what was a lost season for the Jets as a whole, Winters was one of the players to stand out in a positive way. He has cemented himself as the Jets starter at right guard after struggling at left guard to begin his career.

A third round pick in 2013, Winters struggled mightily at left guard to begin his career. When Willie Colon was injured midway through the 2015 season, the Jets flipped Winters to right guard and he has taken off since.

Along with James Carpenter, the left guard, the Jets now have two solid foundation pieces along their offensive line. Both players outperformed expectations in 2016 and give the Jets somewhere to start along an offensive line that could be overhauled this offseason.

Injuries remain a major concern for Winters. I n 2014 he underwent surgery on his knee and missed 10 games. This season he missed three total games; one for a concussion and two for the rotator cuff.

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The rotator cuff injury gives Winters two serious surgeries already in his NFL career. While the surgery will keep him sidelined for a couple of more months, he is expected to be ready for training camp. Retaining him is a good first step for the Jets who need to do a better job of protecting whoever is under center at quarterback next season.

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