PALM BEACH, Fla. — Don’t say goodbye to Allen Lazard just yet, Jets fans.
General manager Darren Mougey said Sunday that the team is trying to work through a contract restructure with Lazard, who most people anticipated the team would cut.
Mougey said they are “working through that” right now when asked about Lazard.
When pressed what he meant, he said they are discussing a contract restructure.
Mougey said they want Lazard to be on the team.
“That’s the hope,” Mougey said. “We’ll work through that.”
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Lazard signed a four-year, $44 million contract with the Jets in 2023.
He has two years left on that deal that calls him to be paid $11 million this season and carry a $13.2 million salary cap number.
The Jets signed Lazard a month before trading for Aaron Rodgers in 2023, reuniting the two former Packers.
The Lazard move was seen as part of the team’s effort to make Rodgers feel comfortable with the Jets.
When the team moved on from Rodgers this offseason, the expectation was that Lazard would not be far behind him.
The team gave Lazard’s agent permission to seek a trade but nothing has developed.
Mougey said any contract extensions would come after the NFL draft.
There is an expectation that 2022 first-round picks Garrett Wilson and Sauce Gardner will seek extensions during this offseason, their first chance at doing so.
Alijah Vera-Tucker and Quincy Williams also could look for extensions entering the final years of their contracts.
“In regard to extensions in general, there’s been a lot of talk about that,” Mougey said. “We have several players whether it’s early extensions or just players we can extend in the last year. Those are good problems to have. We’re having those discussions and those are good discussions to have but right now my focus is on the draft. Once we get through the draft, we’ll talk about potential extensions for whoever that may be.”
Mougey said Vera-Tucker will stay at guard but mentioned his ability to play tackle as a plus.
He also said free agent signee Josh Myers will “push” Joe Tippmann at center.
