Jets Rework Alex Lewis Contract

Most expected Alex Lewis to be cut this off-season but Joe Douglas and the Jets have decided to keep the offensive guard around for another season.

Instead of cutting Lewis, the Jets will instead keep him around on a restructured contract.

Lewis was set to make $5.8 million this year, but will now make $3 million instead and 2022 has been eliminated from his deal. Basically the Jets now have Lewis on a one year $3 million deal.

2020 was a strange year for Lewis. He was the starting LG for the first half of the season before spending the 2nd half (weeks 12-17) on the inactive list.

Details were a little hazy, with Gase only confirming that it wasn’t injury-related and that it would be handled internally. Most presumed due to Lewis’s passionate persona that it was disciplinary that caused him to miss time.

It came at an interesting time as he was arguably coming off his best game in week 11 against the Chargers, a game which the Jets would end up losing, but a game in which Lewis didn’t allow a single pressure.

Lewis didn’t allow a single sack last year, but he did allow 24 pressures on 349 pass-blocking snaps, so it was notable that his inactivity came after one of his best performances.

The Jets drafted Alijah Vera-Tucker in the first round, and barring injury he will be the starting LG this season. Lewis will offer back-up at that position, but will complete for the vacant RG position on the roster.

The right guard competition is going to be one of the most interesting camp battles to keep a watch on. It’ll be veterans Alex Lewis and Greg van Roten competing against 2nd year player Cam Clarke and undrafted rookie Tristen Hoge.