Will Braxton Berrios Be Released By The New York Jets? Fantasy Football Outlook

Braxton Berrios has been the epitome of a team player for the New York Jets since joining the team in 2019. The man has suited up for all 65 games the Jets have played over the past four years, he has returned kickoffs and punts, he has been the starting slot receiver at times and has been the No. 4 or No. 5 WR at times, too. Berrios has even carried the ball 19 times for 160 yards and four touchdowns during his Jets career.

The problem with Berrios is he has not provided a humongous bang compared to the humongous bucks he is being paid. The Jets gifted him a generous two-year contract worth $12 million after the 2021 season when he had a career-high 46 receptions for 431 yards and was ranked third in kickoff return yardage. But this past season Berrios’ numbers tailed off dramatically as he finished with just 18 receptions for 145 yards. He was ninth on the Jets in receiving yards, trailing running back Breece Hall, who missed 10 games due to injury, and WR Denzel Mims, who has been in the doghouse more often that he has been on the field in recent years.

So will the Jets move on from Berrios this offseason because of his hefty price tag, or will they bring him back on a discounted deal? Here is my take:

Will The Jets Release Braxton Berrios?

If Berrios does not agree to take a pay cut of some sort, the Jets will release him in the coming weeks.  If you have not heard, the Jets need a quarterback as badly as I need a Saturday steak after a Lenten Friday. Quarterbacks do not come cheap, so New York must free up salary cap space to accommodate whomever the organization brings in to run the offense, whether it is David Carr, Aaron Rodgers, Jimmy Garoppolo, or some other signal caller.

Cutting bait with Berrios is one way to create cap space so they can acquire a QB that is 100,000 times better than Zach Wilson. Teams cannot afford to pay a kick returner who is a No. 4 WR at best $6 million when he is not making game-breaking plays and has been phased out of the passing attack thanks to the Jets bringing in wideout Garrett Wilson and tight end Tyler Conklin last year.

Berrios would be smart to cut his salary in half for the 2023 campaign so he can stick with the team while they are on the rise. They are only a decent quarterback away from being a playoff team thanks to their staunch defense and their other talented skilled-position players. No matter what happens with Berrios, though, the chances of him being a fantasy force in 2023 are slim unless injuries open up opportunities for him like they did in 2021.

More Fantasy Football Analysis