Jets ask D'Brickashaw Ferguson to take pay cut

The New York Jets have asked left tackle D'Brickashaw Ferguson to take a substantial pay cut in order to free up cap space for free-agent quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick, according to Manish Mehta of The New York Daily News.

The three-time Pro Bowler currently counts $14.1 million against the cap, a number the Jets would like to reduce by $4 million to $5 million, at the least.

The team is currently mired in a stale contract negotiation with Fitzpatrick, who is reportedly asking for $16 million a season, after offering the journeyman quarterback a contract below market value.

Either way, general manager Mike Maccagnan will have to do some creative accounting in order to free up cap room. The Jets currently have about $600,000 in free space heading into the draft.

If they can't work out a deal to reduce Ferguson's salary, they could release the 32-year-old at a cap savings of $10 million.