Another Jets first-round pick bites the dust.
The team traded safety Calvin Pryor, their 2014 first-round pick, to the Browns on Thursday for former Jets linebacker Demario Davis. For the Jets, it was a chance to unload Pryor’s guaranteed $1.6 million salary this season and another step for general manager Mike Maccagnan toward rebuilding the Jets’ roster.
The writing had been on the wall for Pryor, who had a disappointing 2016 season. It was clear Pryor was no longer in the team’s plans when they drafted safeties Jamal Adams and Marcus Maye in the first two rounds of April’s NFL Draft. The team tried to trade Pryor unsuccessfully during the draft and then declined to pick up his 2018 contract option. They planned on cutting Pryor before the season if they could not make a trade with someone. After skipping an OTA practice last week, Pryor was working with the third-team defense this week – a clear sign he was history with the team.
The trade helps the Jets financially. They unloaded Pryor’s $1.6 million guaranteed salary on the Browns. The Jets will still incur a $1.1 million dead money cap hit, but they won’t owe any cash now. Davis’ $3.7 million salary is not guaranteed, meaning the Jets could cut him before the season and not owe him anything. It would appear Davis’ chances of making the team are slim because the Jets already have David Harris and Darron Lee at inside linebacker. Why would they pay a backup that kind of money?
With Pryor leaving the Jets, the Maccagnan/Todd Bowles regime has now gotten rid of three recent first-round picks from previous Jets regimes. They released 2012 first-rounder Quinton Coples in the middle of the 2015 season and cut 2013 first-rounder Dee Milliner before last season. The Jets would love to trade Sheldon Richardson, another 2013 first-round pick, but that is going to be much more difficult because of his $8.1 million salary.
The Pryor trade also adds another layer to the legacy of the 2014 draft for the Jets – the so-called “Idzik 12.” Former Jets GM John Idzik had 12 draft picks that year and it appears he only hit on one player: wide receiver Quincy Enunwa. The only three players left from that class are Enunwa, Dexter McDougle and Dakota Dozier. McDougle and Dozier are hardly locks to make this year’s team.
The Jets took Pryor with the No. 18 overall pick in 2014 out of Louisville. Idzik and former coach Rex Ryan saw a hard-hitting safety that could give them a thumper on the back end. While Pryor delivered plenty of big hits, he struggled in coverage and had attitude issues off the field. Ryan benched him during his rookie season for being late to meetings.
Pryor improved in his second year, Bowles’ first as head coach. He recorded two interceptions – the only two of his career – and seemed to mature. But he regressed in 2016 and was a big part of a secondary that gave up a rash of big plays. He also was part of a locker room the Jets are desperate to change.
Pryor, 24, started 38 of his 44 games with the Jets, finishing with two interceptions, a half-sack and two forced fumbles.
Davis, 28, spent his first four seasons with the Jets after the team selected him in the third round of the 2012 draft. He became a starter in 2013 at inside linebacker and remained there for the next three years. He started 51 games for the Jets, registering 6? sacks and an interception. The Jets let Davis walk in 2016 as a free agent. He signed a two-year, $8 million with the Browns.
The Jets signed former Steelers safety Shamarko Thomas and waived LB Jevaris Jones.