Just four years after making the highlight catch to win the Pittsburgh Steelers the Super Bowl, the New York Jets announced the release of wide receiver Santonio Holmes after his four-year run with the team.
When the Jets acquired Holmes coming off being named Super Bowl XLIII MVP, the franchise was hoping for a number one wide receiver that could put up 1,000-yard seasons and give New York a true threat in the receiving game. They were confident enough in him to give him a five-year, $50 million contract.
Holmes best numbers came in his first two seasons with the team, when he posted back-to-back 50+ reception seasons in 2010 and 2011, but never cracked more than 750 receiving yards or eight touchdowns at either point. The final two years were filled with injuries, anger and disappointment as Holmes played in just 15 total games with 43 receptions, 728 receiving yards and two touchdowns combined.
The move is clearly a smart one for New York as cutting Holmes now will save the team nearly $10 million in cap space, which should go a long way in signing some of the big name free agents they have shown interest in like cornerback Alterraun Verner and T.J. Ward.
Holmes should receive interest for teams trying to find a cheap, veteran wide receiver while guys like Eric Decker search for the big contract. Injuries and effort are a big question for Holmes, but teams have shown before they are willing to take a chance on risky veterans.
From a fantasy perspective, Holmes will likely land in a situation where he receives less snaps than he did in New York. Whatever team signs him will likely envision him as a number three wide receiver, but there are still some positives.
Holmes will likely land in a situation where the team is more passing-oriented and of course has a better quarterback. Holmes played through four years of Mark Sanchez and Geno Smith, so there is plenty of room for improvement.
Holmes is worth monitoring during the offseason to see where he signs, as it will certainly impact his fantasy value. There is still enough talent there that if he lands on a passing-heavy team, he could be worth a late-round flier at the end of drafts.
The biggest name to watch here is Jets wide receiver Jeremy Kerley who showed glimpses of being a fantasy sleeper last season. With Holmes’ out of the way and the rest of the Jets’ wide receiver group a major question, Kerley has a free path to be the man of the Jets’ passing attack.