New York Jets Release Thomas Morstead

The New York Jets released punter Thomas Morstead today. Morstead was going through his second stint with the Jets, with the first stint being in 2021. The move was said to be a continuation of the Jets’ “roster makeover” done by the front office and management. Morstead posted a video on social media saying he was training at Tulane when he found out they were moving on. 

Thomas Morstead Was the Latest New York Jets Casualty

Morstead’s being gone is another example of how the Jets’ most recent attempt at revamping their roster was a complete failure. The additions and now subtractions of Aaron Rodgers, Davante Adams, and Allen Lazard are just three examples of how the plan went wrong. All three are no longer with the team and have underperformed significantly with the team. 

Thomas Morstead is on the older side at 39 years old. However, the punter position is one in which teams around the NFL usually don’t focus as much on age as on leg strength and availability. The New York Jets won’t lose a ton by parting ways with Morstead, and there’s a good chance that Morstead could find another chance in the NFL. 

New York Jets Internal Punting Options

Morstead’s departure leaves punters Austin McNamara and Kai Kroeger. McNamara was an undrafted free agent signed by New York in 2024. Is the lack of experience from both of these guys a little concerning? Sure. But the NFL season is still months away, and finding a punter won’t be that hard of a task. 

It depends on what the Jets want to do. Do they want to roll the dice with two young punters who showed some promise in college, or do they want a short-term solution by signing a veteran punter? Based on the Morstead decision, the Jets may have answered the question for us. They’re valuing getting younger as a team compared to older players. 

Last Thoughts

It’s good that the Jets see the vision of getting younger as the more viable path. As stated above, bringing in a plethora of veterans who are in the heyday of their careers is not a realistic path for this team. There are still a lot of issues with this Jets team, but there seems to be an understanding from top to bottom in the organization that a roster overhaul was necessary and the best move for the team.