New York Jets sign RB Chip Trayanum

Chip Trayanum's three-year deal at roughly $1M AAV earns a C+ Contract Value Index (CVI) — call it a fair, low-risk depth acquisition rather than anything approaching a steal or an overpay. At that price point, the Jets are essentially paying replacement-level money for what projects as a rotational back, and the contract structure carries virtually no meaningful cap risk given the modest total commitment of $3.1M over the life of the deal. Trayanum profiles as roster filler or a late-roster depth piece at this stage of his career, and the CVI reflects exactly that ceiling — the salary aligns with his production tier, but there's no upside baked into this contract that would push the grade higher. The lack of disclosed guaranteed money is notable, suggesting the Jets retain maximum flexibility to move on if he doesn't carve out a defined role during training camp or the preseason ahead of the September 10th regular season opener. For a Jets team coming off a brutal 3-14 campaign, this kind of low-floor, low-ceiling depth signing is exactly the sort of organizational housekeeping you expect in an offseason reset — it doesn't move the needle on the roster in any meaningful direction, but it doesn't hurt the cap picture either. The CVI lands where it does because the value is adequate without being impressive: the money is right, but so is the expectation that Trayanum has to earn a genuine role rather than being handed one.