A New York Jets big man got paid this offseason.
ESPN NFL Insider Dianna Russini announced on Wednesday, March 15 that veteran defensive lineman Nathan Shepherd was signing a deal with the New Orleans Saints.
DT Nathan Shepherd is expected to sign with the Saints, per sources.
Rich Cimini provided the specific contract details on Twitter saying it was a three-year deal for $15 million and featured over $10.1 million of that in total guarantees.
It didn’t take long for Jets fans to share their take on this new deal via social media.
@RichCimini @TalkJetsRadio Overpay city. He’s a nice rotational piece but that’s bonkers. Good for him though
“Overpay city. He’s a nice rotational piece but that’s bonkers. Good for him though.”
Social Media Shares Blunt Response to Nathan Shepherd’s Saints Deal
“Thank God, we did not pay him that he is average at best” one fan responded.
@RichCimini Thank God, we did not pay him that he is average at best
Another fan took a shot at Shepherd’s propensity for flags saying, “hope the Saints like a lot of penalties.”
In 2021 Shepherd committed seven penalties. Now that seems like a lot but it is even worse when you consider he only played 42 percent of the snaps that season. That means with fewer opportunities than most defensive linemen, he still racked up the penalty count.
@RichCimini Hope the saints like a lot of penalties
Another fan simply said, “overpaid.”
@RichCimini Overpaid
“No f****** way” was the stunned response from one fan.
@RichCimini No fucking way
While there were a lot of negative responses to either his penalty history or disbelief with how much money he got, there were also plenty of Jets fans who raised a glass to Shepherd.
@RichCimini Happy for him, small school, great story
One fan said he was “happy for him, small school, great story.”
Shepherd went to two different colleges in Simon Fraser and Fort Hays State. Rich Cimini of ESPN wrote a great column if you want to learn more about his incredible journey from the factory to the NFL football field back in 2018 after he was drafted by the Jets.
@RichCimini Good for him. Was a good guy here in some real down years. Sorry he won’t be here for the turnaround.
One fan said “good for him. Was a good guy here in some real sown years. Sorry, he won’t be here for the turnaround.”
Shepherd joined the Jets in 2018 as the No. 72 overall pick in the third round. Gang Green had a 24-46 overall record in his five seasons with the team.
It appears in 2023 that the Jets have a chance to turn things around with the potential addition of superstar QB Aaron Rodgers. However, Shepherd won’t get a chance to be a part of that with him heading to New Orleans.
Interior Defensive Line Remains a Major Need for Jets in 2023
With Shepherd gone to the Saints and Sheldon Rankins heading to the Houston Texans, the Jets are in dire straits as it pertains to their interior defensive line depth heading into 2023.
Gang Green flirted with a big fish in Fletcher Cox, but ultimately he chose to return to the Philadelphia Eagles.
Gang Green has a true superstar in Quinnen Williams but with how the coaching staff likes to employ a deep defensive line rotation, they’ll need more bodies.
Adding another star to the unit would be fun and splashy but they just need someone who can eat up reps.
Rankins and Shepherd combined to play 975 snaps last season for the green and white. With both of those players in new locations that leaves a lot of meat on the bone that needs to be accounted for next season.
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Fans React to Ex-Jets Big Man Signing $15 Million Deal: ‘Overpay City’