Ferguson never appeared on an injury report.
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Adam Schefter of ESPN is reporting that Gang Green has acquired four-time Pro Bowl tackle Ryan Clady from the Denver Broncos for a fifth-round draft pick.
FILE – In this September 16, 2012, file photo, New York Jets tackle D’Brickashaw Ferguson (60) looks to block Pittsburgh Steelers defensive end Cameron Heyward (97) during the fourth quarter of an NFL football game, in Pittsburgh. Clady missed last season after blowing out an ACL in an offseason workout, forcing him to watch the Broncos’ Super Bowl run from his couch.
A first-round pick in 2008, Clady will be 30 years old when the 2016 season gets underway.
According to Ian Rapoport of NFL Network, the Jets have signed Clady to a one-year, $6 million deal with $3 million guaranteed.
Ferguson’s retirement will create almost $9.1 million in salary cap space, which was necessary to acquire Clady and his $9.5 million salary. But that mock also puts on display the potential difficulty of finding Round 1 help: Laremy Tunsil, Ronnie Stanley, Taylor Decker and Jack Conklin all were off the board when NY went on the clock at No. 20.
Ferguson’s decision comes a day after Buffalo linebacker A.J. Tarpley announced he is retiring from football after just one season rather than risk suffering another concussion.
Even after losing Ryan Harris and Evan Mathis on the offensive front to free agency, the Broncos secured one of the highly decorated players on the market in tackle Russell Okung.
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Though Ferguson’s retirement will give the Jets the quarterback they want, it leaves a massive hole on the offensive line, a unit that already had plenty of question marks entering 2016. Ferguson is now 32 and he is retiring after 10 seasons in the league of NFL. Ijalana has spent the last three years with the Jets and played in three games. The Jets are reportedly offering just $7 million per season while the quarterback is demanding about $16 million per year.
