The Jets signed Jeremy Ruckert to a two-year, $10 million extension last week. Let’s take a look at how it breaks down.
New Cash
2025: $3 million
2026: $2.25 million ($1.74 million base salary, $30k per game active roster bonus)
2027: $4.75 million ($4.24 million base salary, $30k per game active roster bonus)
There are also $1 million in incentives available for Ruckery. The specific details are not available yet, but are probably not likely to be earned in 2026.
Cap Hits
2025: $2,605,197 (up $1 million)
2026: $3.25 million
2027: $5.75 million
His $1.74 million base salary is fully guaranteed in 2026. That makes his dead cap charge either $3.74 million or $2.74 million (post-June 1). So, unless things go really badly and he’s beat out in camp, he’s going to be on the roster in 2026.
Just a hypothesis here, but if his incentives are $500k in each season, and he earns all of them, if the Jets were to cut him in 2027, they’d lose a total of $1.5 million in cap space: $500k in an adjustment and $1 million in dead cap.
This is a very good deal for the Jets, despite his performance today.
He had a penalty and a drop but he made several really good blocks and had at least one catch. If he’s our TE 3 I’m good! I haven’t been a fan until this season. I think his deal is appropriate for what I suspect will be his status next season.