Report: Jets To Get Forte At A Very Affordable Price
NEW YORK (CBSNewYork) -- Let Mike Maccagnan do his job.
Though the Jets were mostly quiet on the first day of free agency, the second-year general manager did reportedly make one smart move. Though the team has yet to officially announce the signing of veteran running back Matt Forte, details of his contract with Gang Green trickled out on Thursday.
MORE: NFL Free Agency Tracker
According to the Daily News, the Jets will give Forte a three-year deal for $12 million with $8 million guaranteed. The $4 million per year average is $2.5 million less than what former starting running back Chris Ivory signed for with the Jacksonville Jaguars on Wednesday.
So, Matt Forte's deal with Jets comes in $2.5M less per year than Chris Ivory's deal with Jags. $2M less in guarantees. 2 fewer total yrs
— Manish Mehta (@MMehtaSports) March 10, 2016
For all practical purposes, Matt Forte's 3-year, $12M deal is a two-year pact with an easy escape hatch for the Jets after 2017. #nyj
— Manish Mehta (@MMehtaSports) March 10, 2016
Forte, 30, has proven to be one of the more durable running backs in the NFL during his eight-year career, missing just eight games.
MORE: Report: Jets Were Way In On Olivier Vernon Before Price Got Too Steep
The former second-round pick out of Tulane amassed 8,602 rushing yards, 487 receptions, 4,116 receiving yards and 64 total touchdowns, all with the Chicago Bears.
The Jets' signing of older running backs is nothing new. In recent years they have inked Thomas Jones and LaDainian Tomlinson, with both proving to be highly cost-effective moves.
As soon as the Forte deal is announced, the Jets will have two running backs under contract in 2016. Veteran Zac Stacy played sparingly before getting hurt last season. Expect Maccagnan to add another back, possibly re-signing Bilal Powell or delving deeper into the market.
There have also been rumblings that the Jets could target a running back in the draft.