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It’s a win-win contract.
NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport announced on Monday that the Jets and right guard Joe Tippmann have agreed to a 4-year, $62 million extension with $31 million guaranteed.
That is good money for the former second-round pick, and very manageable from a cap standpoint for the Jets.
At an average of $15.5 million a season, this makes him the ninth-highest-paid right guard in the NFL, according to overthecap.com.
The highest-paid right guard is Kansas City’s Trey Smith, whose deal averages $23.5 per year, followed by Atlanta’s Chris Lindstrom and Carolina’s Robert Hunt at around $20 million per year.
But remember, Tippmann has only been a right guard for one year, so there is only one year of film of him at the position. So it’s hard to justify doing a top-of-the-market deal with him based on one year at his new position.
He obviously was a center before that, at Wisconsin, and then his first two years with the Jets.
Tippmann did some really good things as a right guard, but he also has some work to do, so this deal is a good compromise, based on limited experience at the position you’re paying him to play, and his big upside at the position.
Tippmann has the potential to be a top-five right guard in the NFL.
There is a lot of like about this player. Obviously, a massive man at 6-6, 313, he carries the weight so well, so proportionately – he’s not a fat lineman.
And that helps his mobility, making him an excellent pulling guard who consistently takes out linebackers on the second level.
Also, for a 6-6 lineman, who does a great job of keeping his pad level low.
One problem for tall linemen is that they often play too upright, and this applies to both sides of the ball.
And when you play too upright, and let your pads rise too high, it makes it hard to win the leverage game against the lineman across the ball.
For instance, Jets fourth-round pick, defensive tackle Darrell Jackson, who is 6-5 1/2, is a tall lineman who needs to work on lowering his pad level.
“[Jackson] plays too upright and with inconsistent base width/block take-on, making him more easily cleared from gaps,” wrote NFL draft analyst Lance Zierlein before the 2026 draft.
This isn’t meant as a criticism of Jackson, who plays very hard, and will be working under a hell of a defensive line coach, Karl Dunbar, who will help him with this, but just pointing out how important it is for tall linemen to keep their pad level down.
Just think of this from a wrestling standpoint – low man wins
Tippmann does a really nice job keeping his pad level down.
In Tippmann and right tackle Armand Membou, the Jets should have the right side of their line solved for now, and for many years to come. And expect Breece Hall, Braelen Allen, and company to run back these two road graders a lot this year.
And while at first, Tippmann might have had reservations about moving from center to right guard, it might have been a blessing in disguise, and he’s taken well to his new position.
Remember, during his two years at center for the Jets, on occasion, he had some issues with shotgun snaps, the yips to use a golf term.
At right guard, he doesn’t have shotgun snaps preying on his mind, and can fire off the ball and maul people, which he is very good at.
Aside from his impressive skill set as a player, Tippmann has tremendous character and is a great teammate. He also represents the team well with the fans and media.
While Tippmann didn’t get Smith-Lindstrom money, it is still life-changing money for Tippmann and his family.
And a manageable deal for the Jets.
Win-win contract for sure.
June 15, 2026
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