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New York Jets head coach Robert Saleh left the door wide open.
On Friday, May 5 he was asked if former Green Bay Packers tight end Marcedes Lewis could be added to the roster this offseason.
“[Starts laughing], you never know.”
Lewis was one of the names featured on Aaron Rodgers’ wish list, according to Dianna Russini of ESPN.
Marcedes Lewis Doesn’t Seem Interested in Aaron Rodgers Reunion on Jets
The Jets may have kept the door open on Friday, May 5 to the possibility, but it seems like the door might have already been slammed shut.
According to Justin Mosqueda of Acme Packing Company, Lewis “doesn’t seem interested in joining Aaron Rodgers in New York.”
“The reason isn’t a personal rift with Rodgers, but the tax rate in New York/New Jersey,” Mosqueda explained in an article posted on Monday, May 1. “This is why reported interest from the Las Vegas Raiders, who play in an income-tax-less Nevada, is significant.”
During his 17-year career to date in the NFL, Lewis has made over $60 million in career earnings, per Spotrac.
The 38-year-old who will turn 39 before the start of the 2023 season is an unrestricted free agent. He has been Rodgers’ teammate in Green Bay for the past five seasons. Prior to that, the veteran tight end spent the first 12 years of his career with the Jacksonville Jaguars.
Lewis has appeared in over 251 games and has made 221 starts during that time. In those seasons the former UCLA product has made 432 receptions for 5,084 receiving yards and has 39 touchdowns.
Jets Are Well Stocked at the TE Position in 2023
Lewis is a proven veteran and would have been a nice presence in the locker room. However if the Jets don’t sign him this offseason, they should be just dandy with the tight ends they already have on the roster.
Gang Green boasts a pair of veterans in CJ Uzomah and Tyler Conklin. Both of those players are roster locks and figure to be big-time factors on the Jets’ offense in 2023.
In addition to that, they also have a few intriguing youngsters on the depth chart.
- Jeremy Ruckert
- Kenny Yeboah
- Zack Kuntz
- EJ Jenkins
Ruckert was the No. 101 overall pick in the third round of the 2022 NFL draft. He basically used his rookie season in the NFL as a redshirt campaign due to an array of injuries.
The coaching staff and people inside the building have talked him up and believe he is going to emerge as a key piece to the puzzle next season.
Yeboah is a solid special teams player and has built up some good relationships with the coaching staff. Kuntz and Jenkins are new to the party just being added this offseason.
The latter names on the list are likely battling for spots on the practice squad and there might be an outside chance that the Jets keep a fourth tight end on the 53-man roster.
However, if general manager Joe Douglas decides to do that you’ll be taking a roster spot away from another positional group.
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Jets Leave Door Open for 17-Year Veteran to Join Squad