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Per a report by Tom Pelissero, the New York Jets have renegotiated the final year of linebacker Avery Williamson’s three year deal originally signed in 2018. The move reportedly saves the Jets $3.75 million in salary cap space.
#Jets LB Avery Williamson recently agreed to a restructured contract worth $3.5M for this season, including $1M guaranteed, per source. Max $5M with incentives. The move saves New York $3M in cash and $3.75M in cap space.
— Tom Pelissero (@TomPelissero) August 31, 2020
Williamson had an outstanding first year with the Jets after he was signed as an unrestricted free agent in 2018. Last year Williamson missed the entire 2019 season with an ACL injury. Williamson just recently recovered enough from the injury to resume practicing with the Jets, and thus far he has seen most of his work with the second unit. If Williamson is now a second team linebacker, it is not surprising the Jets would seek to renegotiate his contract.
The renegotiated Williamson deal is the latest move by Jets general manager Joe Douglas to save salary cap space in anticipation of a sharply reduced cap in 2021 and beyond due to the global COVID-19 pandemic. The Jets now have more than $34 million in cap space in 2020 per overthecap.com, most of which will likely roll over to the 2021 season, when cap space will likely be scarce around the NFL.