After claiming Nate Herbig off waivers from the Eagles, the Jets jettisoned one of their experienced blockers and saved some money. They cut Greg Van Roten on Friday.
Van Roten’s release represents the Jets’ corresponding move for the waiver claim. The veteran starter will head straight to free agency. Van Roten, 32, started 23 games for the Jets over the past two seasons but was no longer in line to be a first-stringer, with the team signing Laken Tomlinson in free agency.
While this release saves the Jets $3.5M, it cuts into their newly solid depth on their interior offensive line. Herbig and Dan Feeney represent the team’s top interior backup options. Van Roten, however, arrived prior to Robert Saleh and offensive coordinator Mike LaFleur‘s arrivals. Tomlinson is set to team with 2021 first-round pick Alijah Vera-Tucker, with Connor McGovern still under contract at center.
The Jets signed Van Roten during the same offseason they landed McGovern, giving the ex-Panther blocker a three-year deal worth $10.5M. He was set to earn a nonguaranteed $3M this season. A New York native who emerged as an undrafted free agent out of Penn, Van Roten has made 50 career starts — all since 2018. Pro Football Focus rated Van Roten as a middling guard last season. He figures to have a shot elsewhere at some point before the season.
More must-reads: