Seattle Seahawks head coach Pete Carroll told the media during Super Bowl Media Day that the trade Percy Harvin certainly was not popular at the time, but helped change the team's season for the better. The New York Jets took on Harvin in hopes that he could be another weapon that would push Geno Smith to succeed. That failed to really transpire for the Jets and now with new management and coaches in place, Harvin's future is once again not looking very secure.
Plain and simple, the Jets need Harvin to take a pay cut. The wide receiver is signed to a contract that extends through the 2019 as he is a $10.5 million cap hit next season, a $9 million cap hit in 2016 and 2017 while then ballooning back to an $11 million cap hit in 2018. New York simply cannot take on those numbers. The team has a lot of holes to fill this offseason and needs the salary cap space to make it all happen.
According to NJ.com, Harvin would ideally like to return to the Jets and continue playing for the team, but he has no interest in taking a pay cut to make it happen. The wide receiver must have his contract restructured to remain on the roster or else he will be a free agent come March. Quarterback Geno Smith certainly hopes the two sides work something out.
"Man, I love playing with him," Smith said, via NJ.com. "He's an explosive, explosive player. He gives us an added dimension in so many areas. I don't know what the decision making will be, but I would love to have him back."
Bringing Harvin back would certainly give the Jets a nice tandem with Eric Decker. The wide receiver would be a solid down-field threat and prevent the defense from zoning in on Decker which they did for a majority of last season. However, the new general manager could be aiming to shift in a different direction would likely would include releasing Harvin for someone else.
The Jets will chase a big name if Harvin is gone. The team has the salary cap to get a top-tier player since they likely will not aim to give up draft picks in a trade. Dez Bryant is of course the long-shot option. Michael Crabtree, Julius Thomas and Jeremy Maclin would all be ideal acquires. They could even aim for someone like Hakeem Nicks or Torrey Smith if they are available. In order for any quarterback to be successful with the Jets, they need another top receiver to pair with Decker.
