Having added two notable free agents at the position, more change was likely inevitable for the Jets. It comes as little surprise, then, that the team announced on Monday the release of veteran tight end Ryan Griffin.
The 32-year-old was a sixth-round pick of the Texans in 2013. His role developed over the course of multiple years in Houston, peaking in 2016. During that campaign, he posted career highs in receptions (50) and yards (442). Across six seasons with the Texans, he played in 77 games (including 36 starts), registering 1,491 yards and seven touchdowns.
In July 2019, Griffin signed with the Jets, who were short on experience at the position. He remained there for three campaigns, starting 31 of 42 games. The 2020 season saw him make only nine catches, but the years before and after were in line with his standard levels of production. Overall, he totaled 70 catches for 667 yards and seven scores in the Big Apple.
Releasing Griffin (who was under contract for one more season) will save the Jets just over $3M. Regardless of the financial implications, New York had already re-vamped the depth chart at the position this offseason. The Jets signed C.J. Uzomah as well as Tyler Conklin as two of their early moves in free agency. With those two in place, Griffin will now hit the open market for the second time in his career as he looks for his next NFL home.
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