New York Jets Wide Receiver Allen Lazard was a healthy scratch for the Black Friday game against the Miami Dolphins. While expectations were high for this season for the Jets, events have spiraled out of control quickly this season.
Huge Lazard Contract with the New York Jets Wasted
The Jets made a series of major gambles during the off season that all come down to the same source: Aaron Rodgers. They brought in widely criticized offensive coordinator Nathaniel Hackett off of a disastrous season with the Denver Broncos only because he was close with Rodgers during his tenure as quarterbacks coach for the Green Bay Packers. His push for Lazard also resulted in a suboptimal contract for the Jets.
In the offseason, the New York Jets signed Allen Lazard to a 4-year contract totally 44 million dollars, averaging 11 million per year. While that may not seem like much in the current wide receiver market with star receivers making north of 30 million dollars per year, it is a significant amount for a wide receiver who has never topped 800 yards in a season.
Lazard’s Arrival caps the dismantling of the New York Jets Receiver Room
When the Jet’s made the trade for Aaron Rodgers, they clearly made a deal to do whatever he demanded to make him happy. The signing of Hackett was the indicator of that but Lazard was the final piece of the completely rebuilt receiver room. Following the offseason, the Jets traded away former second round pick Elijah Moore, let former second round pick Denzel Mims walk and let slot receiver/return man Braxton Berrios leave for the rival Dolphins.
While Garrett Wilson remains the focal point of the offense, they brought in Lazard to serve as a functional second option. He has been disastrous this season and was left off the roster this week against the Miami Dolphins.
A season that started with the injury of star quarterback Aaron Rodgers, the recent benching of promising young rookie Zach Wilson and now the omission of Lazard has clearly gone off the rails for the New York Jets.