Brandon Smith Signing Could Be Big For Jets Future
Brandon Smith signed with the New York Jets 53-man roster off their practice squad, and this could be good for the future of the franchise.
Smith will be 27 years old in December, but he has an opportunity to make an impression for the Jets to give them a cheap option for the next three seasons for depth at wide receiver.
Despite performing well in the summer the last two seasons, Smith has yet to crack the opening 53-man roster in either season.
Smith has zero accrued seasons and can gain one if he stays on the active roster for the rest of the 2025 season. He will also gain a credited season toward an increase in his minimum salary.
With one accrued season, he will have two seasons as an exclusive rights free agent. That means the Jets will have full control over him for those two seasons.
His two credited seasons mean his ERFA tender would be $1.075 million. That would be good for the Jets to have some cheap depth at another position.
Breaking Down Jowon Briggs Contract Situation
Jowon Briggs being good for the Jets would be amazing for the franchise, especially from a financial standpoint. He’d be cheap for three more seasons on top of this one at a key position.
If he earns another credited and accrued season in 2026, his ERFA tender in 2027 would be $1,190,000. I am currently projecting the RFA tender (three accrued seasons and an expired contract) in 2028 to be $4,492,195. That’s a total of $6,757,195 over the next three seasons.
The combination of Jowon Briggs and Smith will cost the Jets $13,374,390 over the next three seasons. Having players like Briggs and Smith under team control for three seasons help the Jets keep building while maintaining good depth.
It’s up to Smith to step up and prove it, but if he does, the Jets will be in good shape, in terms of depth, at two positions moving forward.