Is Ryan Clady worth keeping around for 2017?
Yesterday, ESPN’s Field Yates reported that New York Jets left tackle, Ryan Clady restructured his contract back in December ultimately enabling the Jets to spend more time addressing the situation. The 30-year old Clady, who will be 31 in September would be due $10 million in 2017 if he is on the active roster come Week 1 of next season.
Having played in just 27 of 64 possible games since 2013, Clady hasn’t been nearly healthy enough to be a dependable left tackle that all NFL teams need. With that being said, their options beyond Clady are limited at this point. Ben Ijalana slid over from right tackle to left after Clady went down with a rotator cuff injury, an injury he played through since Week 3 of the season.
Ijalana is better suited at right tackle, but with fifth-round draft pick, Brandon Shell developing at right tackle, the Jets could have a battle for the spot in the offseason. Yet, it would be better for the Jets to have Shell serve as a backup for one more season, despite his flashes of potential late in the year.
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In order for Clady to remain a Jet and it to fiscally make sense for the Jets, he would have to take a pay cut. Simply put, the Jets can’t risk handing out $10 million to Clady only to have his season get cut short due to injury.
At the same time, however, they do need all the bodies they can get on the offensive line. Clady can turn in a good year for the Jets in 2017 if he’s on the field. He’s unlikely to receive anything close to $10 million on the open market anyway, so a pay cut isn’t out of the question.
His best days appear to be behind him but that’s not to say Clady can’t perform at a serviceable level for the Jets. Though all signs seem to be pointing at a departure for Clady, it shouldn’t be a surprise if he is to end up as a Jet next season.
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