Allen Lazard and the Jets are parting ways after three seasons, with the team releasing the wide receiver and sending him into free agency. This move clears space on the roster but leaves lingering financial questions. Let’s take a look at how this cut weighs on the Jets organization.

Lazard signed a four-year, $44 million contract in 2023, featuring an average annual salary of $11 million and a substantial $10.9 million signing bonus that the Jets already paid upfront. After being released, the Jets will still owe Lazard his fully guaranteed amount of $22 million (including the signing bonus).

Additionally, the team incurs approximately $8.3 million in dead-cap charges due to previously paid guarantees, while any remaining non-guaranteed salary is not owed. As a free agent, Lazard is now free to sign with any team in need of a proven target. His release opens the door for a fresh start elsewhere.

However, the release isn’t shocking because during the offseason, the Jets tried to trade Lazard, but no team pinged them with an offer. He ended up taking a pay cut to stay. The restructured contract dropped his base salary to just $2.25 million plus $250,000 in roster bonuses.

That restructure gave the Jets an escape plan. The move slashed their cap charge from $13.2 million to $4.6 million. But the contract still eats up the organization’s 2026 cap with $4.4 million in dead money.

Moreover, they had to guarantee $1.75 million for 2025 but voided his final year in 2026. This release was a long time coming, though, as Lazard hasn’t been much of an active factor on offense lately.

Allen Lazard’s professional career through the years

Lazard has played for eight years now in the NFL. The wide receiver first signed with the Jaguars in 2018 as an undrafted free agent. But before he could even take a snap with Jacksonville, the Jags traded him to the Packers that same year.

The WR spent five solid years with the Packers, where he built a reliable role. He had the best year of his career in 2022, starting 15 games with 60 receptions for over 700 receiving yards and six touchdowns. 

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Then, Lazard declared free agency in 2023 and signed that big deal with the Jets to reunite with quarterback Aaron Rodgers. However, last season he fought through a chest injury and ended up missing five games. This season battled a shoulder injury in the preseason but got healthy for the regular season. 

However, he hasn’t seen the field much this season. And leaves New York having played in 10 games and started just two, managing only 10 receptions for 70 yards with a single touchdown.