The overhaul of the New York Jets offensive line has begun.

The New York Jets are reportedly releasing guard Laken Tomlinson. Tomlinson was due to have a cap charge of $18.8 million for 2024. Cutting him will save the Jets roughly $8.1 million on the cap this season.

The move is not entirely unexpected as Tomlinson’s cap number was simply too high for his production. 

Tomlinson was drafted by the Detroit Lions in the first round of the 2015 NFL Draft, and he spent just two seasons there before being traded to San Francisco in exchange for a fifth-round draft pick.

He played well for the 49ers and signed an extension before the expiration of his rookie contract, but upon the completion of that deal, he joined the Jets on a three-year pact back in 2022.

Tomlinson was a staple on the offensive line the last two season starting every game. That isn’t necessarily a good thing as the offensive line was one of the main culprits of the team’s offensive ineptitude.

He was the only Jets offensive lineman that seemed to avoid getting injured but he allowed five sacks and 35 QB hits in 2023.

Tomlinson was considered a great locker room guy and a quiet leader within the team. His release will be felt by the players, but Joe Douglas has spent years bringing in high character guys.

Anyone want to play O-Line?

The move to cut Tomlinson will give the Jets $24.7 million to spend this offseason, which is the 18th most in the NFL. It is fair to say that a large portion of that, coupled with whatever other money they save with cuts, trades or restructures, will go towards improving the o-line.

The Jets currently only have two starters on the offensive line who have more than 20 starts in their careers and one of them is Alijah Vera-Tucker who spent the last two Novembers on IR.

Currently the Jets have Tippmann in his sophomore season at center and AVT playing…somewhere on the line. Other than that, it is a crap shoot as to who will line up in front of Aaron Rodgers in 2024.

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