As the Jets face an offseason of roster uncertainty, one issue seems to loom over the rest: the who-should-stay/who-should-go dilemma at receiver, where it seems they’re going to have to choose between Braylon Edwards and Santonio Holmes.
Both players had terrific seasons for the Jets. Both are extremely talented. And both represent significant off-the-field risks.
That makes the decision by Jets general manager Mike Tannenbaum and Rex Ryan crucial.
Can they keep both?
It’s possible, but unlikely.
The Post yesterday contacted prominent NFL agents who have dealings with the Jets to ask them of their view of the Edwards-Holmes dilemma facing the Jets.
The consensus among the agents, none of whom represent either Edwards or Holmes, is that the Jets will let Edwards, who had 53 catches and seven touchdowns and dropped only one pass all year, test the free-agent market and make more of a play to re-sign Holmes, who’s the more dangerous game-breaker (eight touchdowns in 15 games, including playoffs).
A couple of the agents speculated that the Jets, whose top priorities are re-signing linebacker David Harris and cornerback Antonio Cromartie, might let both Edwards and Holmes test the market.
Everything, of course, is contingent upon how the uncertain labor situation unfolds. Holmes, for example, is entering his fifth season, which could mean he’s a restricted free agent. Edwards, who’s entering his sixth season, will be unrestricted.
“I think the Jets are going to let Braylon go to free agency and test the market, see what he can get and then decide if they want to re-sign him,” one agent said. “I think the Jets’ priority among the two is to keep Santonio, because Santonio is the player among the two that keeps opposing defensive coaches up at night trying to game plan against him.
“I don’t think receiver is a high priority for the Jets. The Jets can still keep Santonio and go out and rent T.O. [Terrell Owens] or Randy Moss or [Chad] Ochocinco for a year. If anyone can coach Randy Moss, it’s Rex Ryan.”
Knowing the Jets’ fearlessness when it comes to making a controversial signing, Plaxico Burress, who’ll be released from prison in June, cannot be ruled out, though unlikely.
The first agent also said “depending on what happens” with the Collective Bargaining Agreement, the Jets could put a franchise tag on Holmes.
Entering the 2010 season, the franchise tag salary for receivers, which is the average of the top five salaries at the position, was $9.521 million, with the Cardinals’ Larry Fitzgerald the highest paid at $10.9 million.
The consensus among the agents spoken to was that Holmes, who made about $1.5 million in 2010, will likely seek a salary that pays him somewhere between $7 million and $8 million per year and Edwards, who made $4.35 million, will ask for between $5 million and $6 million per.
“Braylon thinks he’s worth more than that, but he’s not, and I don’t think Braylon Edwards is as much a priority as everyone is making him out to be,” a second agent said.
“I could end my career here, but I’m not going to play here for a pittance just because I like it here,” Edwards said recently.
“It’s not feasible to keep the two of them,” a third agent said. “David Harris is probably the No. 1 priority, then Cromartie. They’ll probably let the receivers test the market. When you have guys with character risks it’s hard to give these guys big money up front.
“In my view, because of the character issues off the field those guys are hard to sign. They are tremendous players, but how do you risk giving them a huge signing bonus and a long-term contract? That’s the challenge Mike [Tannenbaum] is facing.”
Mark Sanchez said on Monday he wants both receivers back, but realizes that might not be “totally realistic.”
“I felt great with both of them,” Sanchez said. “They both have big play-making ability, obviously. They both can change the dynamic of a game. They helped me out tremendously in their own ways. I’d love to get them back.
“I know it’s not totally realistic to be able to keep both, but we’ll figure it out and I’m confident in Mike Tannenbaum trying to get the best players back.”