Jets release Darryl Roberts

The Jets have released cornerback Darryl Roberts.

The move frees up $6 million in salary cap space.

Roberts signed a three year, $18 million contract last offseason. It seemed at the time like a lot of money for a career backup. Along with that contract, the Jets also gave Roberts a starting job. Unsurprisingly, the decision to hand a 28 year old backup a starting job turned out to be a poor one. Roberts struggled immediately. He was burned by John Brown for the game-losing touchdown in the fourth quarter of the opener against the Bills. He eventually lost his starting job.

This was an obvious decision. The Roberts contract was emblematic of the Mike Maccagnan Era. The Jets paid millions of dollars to a player who probably didn’t deserve much more than the minimum.

The Jets have now released both of their opening day outside cornerbacks from a year ago.