Jets Release Folk and Giacomini

The New York Jets announced today that they are cutting veteran kicker Nick Folk and tackle Breno Giacomini in what are the first of what should be many releases made by the Jets this offseason. Both players were entering the final years of their contracts, both of which were signed in 2014. The two moves will save the Jets $7.5 million in cap space.

Folk had a long career with the Jets that began in 2010. At one point Folk was actually designated a franchise player by the Jets before they agreed on an extension. Folk was generally reliable for the team but struggled a bit this season and it did not seem that the Jets had confidence in him to try longer distance field goals. It was hard to imagine a team like the Jets, who are a work in progress, spending $3.6M on a kicker.

Giacomini, who will be 32 this season, signed with the Jets as an unrestricted free agent in 2014 after a stint in which he started 25 games from 2012 to 2013 with the Seahawks. Giacomini’s signing was spearheaded by former GM John Idzik who was familiar with Giacomini from his days working in Seattle. Giacomini started 32 games for the Jets in 2014 and 2015 before spending all but 5 games in 2016 on the reserve list. Giacomini could have been released last season but the Jets lack of depth along the offensive line likely tipped the scales in his favor. We had him ranked as the 7th most likely tackle to be released this year. His release saves $4.5 million on the cap.  He was ranked