How can Jets free up additional cap space?
New York Jets Salary Cap: How can New York free up additional cap space?
If former New York Jets general manager John Idzik accomplished nothing else with the team during his two-year stay, he did set the team's next general manager up with quite a bit of spending money.
When the new league year official begins, the Jets are set to have $38.65 million in cap available cap space--second most in the NFL. Some of that money will be designated to the team's 2015 draft class, to resign players whose contracts have expired and bring in free agents.
The Jets have the money to make a splash, something owner Woody Johnson indicated he wished the team had done last year.
While the near $40 million in space is nice, that number has the chance to grow even more with a few roster adjustments. On the ensuing slides, you'll see who will free up the most cap space if released and not on the roster next year.
Please note, all salary cap numbers are estimated as the cap has not yet been set for 2015. Player salary breakdowns courtesy of Spotrac.com and OverTheCap.com.
Connor Hughes is the New York Jets beat writer for About.com Sports. He can be reached on twitter: @Connor_J_Hughes, or via email: Connor_J_Hughes@yahoo.com
New York Jets Salary Cap: Receiver, Percy Harvin
After falling out of favor with the Minnesota Vikings and Seattle Seahawks, receiver Percy Harvin made his way to New York midway through this season. In his eight games with the Jets, Harvin displayed everything the Seahawks had hoped they'd be getting two years ago.
Harvin caught 29 passes for 350 yards and a touchdown while rushing 22 times for 110 yards. He returned 20 kicks for an average of nearly 25 yards a return.
He was explosive and added another dimension to the Jets offense and special teams.
But Harvin comes with quite the price tag if he's on the Jets next year.
PLAYER NAME: Percy Harvin
POSITION: Receiver
CAP NUMBER: $10.5m
MONEY SAVED IF RELEASED: $10.5m
DEAD MONEY: $0
JETS CAP WITHOUT PLAYER: $49.15m
New York Jets Salary Cap: Nick Mangold, Center
It is highly, highly unlikely the New York Jets decide to part ways with center Nick Mangold. Since being selected in the first round of the 2006 NFL Draft, Mangold has established himself as one of --if not the-- best center in the NFL.
Not to mention, he hasn't exactly had a drop off in play.
This year, Mangold was the lone Jets player to make the Pro Bowl, was PFF's top-rated center and received the third-most AP All-Pro votes.
He's at the top of his game, still, and anchors New York's offensive line.
If New York were to decide to part ways with Mangold, it would free up quite a bit of change. Although, again, it is highly, highly unlikely.
PLAYER NAME: Nick Mangold
POSITION: Center
CAP NUMBER: $10.4m
MONEY SAVED IF RELEASED: $7.4m
DEAD MONEY: $3.07m
JETS CAP WITHOUT PLAYER: $46.05m
New York Jets Salary Cap: Chris Johnson, Running Back
When Chris Johnson signed with the New York Jets this offseason, the team was hoping they'd be getting CJ2k, the running back that ran for 2,006 yards back in 2009. At the minimum, New York thought they'd get the running back that had run for more than 1,000 yards every year of his career.
The Jets didn't get either.
Johnson started the year as New York's starter, but was then passed on the depth chart by Chris Ivory and never got in much of a rhythm.
Playing in all 16 games, Johnson carried the ball 10 times or less 10 times. He finished the season rushing just 155 times for 663 yards and a touchdown. His carries, yardage and touchdown mark were the fewest in his career.
Johnson signed a two-year contract with New York last offseason, but is very expendable entering year two. With Bilal Powell and Ivory still on the roster, it's unlikely Johnson returns.
PLAYER NAME: Chris Johnson
POSITION: Running Back
CAP NUMBER: $5.25m
MONEY SAVED IF RELEASED: $3.5
DEAD MONEY: $1.75km
JETS CAP WITHOUT PLAYER: $42.15
New York Jets Salary Cap: Outside Linebacker, Calvin Pace
New York Jets linebacker Calvin Pace has been a staple on former coach Rex Ryan's defense since signing with the team prior to the start of the 2008 season. In that time, he's been a more than serviceable outside linebacker.
In his seven years with the Jets, Pace has recorded 43 sacks. In 2013, he brought down the quarterback a career-high 10 times. With the way Pace maintains his body, he can easily still play in the NFL.
The question is if the Jets want him.
With a new coach and new scheme coming in, the Jets may be making a transition to the 4-3 defense for the first time in a long time. If that happens, Pace is a square peg looking to fit into a circle hole.
Pace can still play, his cap number isn't incredible high, but if he's let go, it'll give New York some extra spending money.
PLAYER NAME: Calvin Pace
POSITION: Outside Linebacker
CAP NUMBER: $2.25m
MONEY SAVED IF RELEASED: $2.125
DEAD MONEY: $125k
JETS CAP WITHOUT PLAYER: $40.775
With second-round pick Jace Amaro entering year two next season, odds are Jeff Cumberland won't be New York's starter. Now the question is if the team wants to pay their second-string tight end nearly $2 million.
Starting each game this season, Cumberland caught 23 passes for 247 yards and three touchdowns. The catch and receiving totals were his lowest since 2011. It's not that Cumberland can't play, it's more just if the team wants to pay him, or look for other options.
According to PFF, Cumberland was the league's worst tight end (players playing at least 25 percent of offense's snaps) with a cumulative grade of -26.3.
PLAYER NAME: Jeff Cumberland
POSITION: Tight End
CAP NUMBER: $1.9
MONEY SAVED IF RELEASED: $1.9
DEAD MONEY: $0
JETS CAP WITHOUT PLAYER: $40.55
In his first year with the New York Jets, Jason Babin was used near perfectly in Rex Ryan's scheme. Babin, in any of his 11 NFL seasons, has never been known as a run stopper. So, the Jets didn't ask him to be one.
Babin was brought in on pass rushing situations and given one task: Get the quarterback. He finished the season with 25 tackles and two sacks, but was better than the numbers indicate. Babin recorded seven quarterback hits and 27 pressures.
He finished with a positive PFF grade of 13.5.
He can still play, has experience in both a 3-4 and 4-3 scheme and could be valuable if used as he was this year.
PLAYER NAME: Jason Babin
POSITION: Outside Linebacker
CAP NUMBER: $1.625
MONEY SAVED IF RELEASED: $1.5
DEAD MONEY: $125k
JETS CAP WITHOUT PLAYER: $40.15
If former New York Jets general manager John Idzik accomplished nothing else with the team during his two-year stay, he did set the team's next general manager up with quite a bit of spending money.
When the new league year official begins, the Jets are set to have $38.65 million in cap available cap space--second most in the NFL. Some of that money will be designated to the team's 2015 draft class, to resign players whose contracts have expired and bring in free agents.
The Jets have the money to make a splash, something owner Woody Johnson indicated he wished the team had done last year.
While the near $40 million in space is nice, that number has the chance to grow even more with a few roster adjustments. On the ensuing slides, you'll see who will free up the most cap space if released and not on the roster next year.
Please note, all salary cap numbers are estimated as the cap has not yet been set for 2015. Player salary breakdowns courtesy of Spotrac.com and OverTheCap.com.
Connor Hughes is the New York Jets beat writer for About.com Sports. He can be reached on twitter: @Connor_J_Hughes, or via email: Connor_J_Hughes@yahoo.com
New York Jets Salary Cap: Receiver, Percy Harvin
After falling out of favor with the Minnesota Vikings and Seattle Seahawks, receiver Percy Harvin made his way to New York midway through this season. In his eight games with the Jets, Harvin displayed everything the Seahawks had hoped they'd be getting two years ago.
Harvin caught 29 passes for 350 yards and a touchdown while rushing 22 times for 110 yards. He returned 20 kicks for an average of nearly 25 yards a return.
He was explosive and added another dimension to the Jets offense and special teams.
But Harvin comes with quite the price tag if he's on the Jets next year.
PLAYER NAME: Percy Harvin
POSITION: Receiver
CAP NUMBER: $10.5m
MONEY SAVED IF RELEASED: $10.5m
DEAD MONEY: $0
JETS CAP WITHOUT PLAYER: $49.15m
New York Jets Salary Cap: Nick Mangold, Center
It is highly, highly unlikely the New York Jets decide to part ways with center Nick Mangold. Since being selected in the first round of the 2006 NFL Draft, Mangold has established himself as one of --if not the-- best center in the NFL.
Not to mention, he hasn't exactly had a drop off in play.
This year, Mangold was the lone Jets player to make the Pro Bowl, was PFF's top-rated center and received the third-most AP All-Pro votes.
He's at the top of his game, still, and anchors New York's offensive line.
If New York were to decide to part ways with Mangold, it would free up quite a bit of change. Although, again, it is highly, highly unlikely.
PLAYER NAME: Nick Mangold
POSITION: Center
CAP NUMBER: $10.4m
MONEY SAVED IF RELEASED: $7.4m
DEAD MONEY: $3.07m
JETS CAP WITHOUT PLAYER: $46.05m
New York Jets Salary Cap: Chris Johnson, Running Back
When Chris Johnson signed with the New York Jets this offseason, the team was hoping they'd be getting CJ2k, the running back that ran for 2,006 yards back in 2009. At the minimum, New York thought they'd get the running back that had run for more than 1,000 yards every year of his career.
The Jets didn't get either.
Johnson started the year as New York's starter, but was then passed on the depth chart by Chris Ivory and never got in much of a rhythm.
Playing in all 16 games, Johnson carried the ball 10 times or less 10 times. He finished the season rushing just 155 times for 663 yards and a touchdown. His carries, yardage and touchdown mark were the fewest in his career.
Johnson signed a two-year contract with New York last offseason, but is very expendable entering year two. With Bilal Powell and Ivory still on the roster, it's unlikely Johnson returns.
PLAYER NAME: Chris Johnson
POSITION: Running Back
CAP NUMBER: $5.25m
MONEY SAVED IF RELEASED: $3.5
DEAD MONEY: $1.75km
JETS CAP WITHOUT PLAYER: $42.15
New York Jets Salary Cap: Outside Linebacker, Calvin Pace
New York Jets linebacker Calvin Pace has been a staple on former coach Rex Ryan's defense since signing with the team prior to the start of the 2008 season. In that time, he's been a more than serviceable outside linebacker.
In his seven years with the Jets, Pace has recorded 43 sacks. In 2013, he brought down the quarterback a career-high 10 times. With the way Pace maintains his body, he can easily still play in the NFL.
The question is if the Jets want him.
With a new coach and new scheme coming in, the Jets may be making a transition to the 4-3 defense for the first time in a long time. If that happens, Pace is a square peg looking to fit into a circle hole.
Pace can still play, his cap number isn't incredible high, but if he's let go, it'll give New York some extra spending money.
PLAYER NAME: Calvin Pace
POSITION: Outside Linebacker
CAP NUMBER: $2.25m
MONEY SAVED IF RELEASED: $2.125
DEAD MONEY: $125k
JETS CAP WITHOUT PLAYER: $40.775
With second-round pick Jace Amaro entering year two next season, odds are Jeff Cumberland won't be New York's starter. Now the question is if the team wants to pay their second-string tight end nearly $2 million.
Starting each game this season, Cumberland caught 23 passes for 247 yards and three touchdowns. The catch and receiving totals were his lowest since 2011. It's not that Cumberland can't play, it's more just if the team wants to pay him, or look for other options.
According to PFF, Cumberland was the league's worst tight end (players playing at least 25 percent of offense's snaps) with a cumulative grade of -26.3.
PLAYER NAME: Jeff Cumberland
POSITION: Tight End
CAP NUMBER: $1.9
MONEY SAVED IF RELEASED: $1.9
DEAD MONEY: $0
JETS CAP WITHOUT PLAYER: $40.55
In his first year with the New York Jets, Jason Babin was used near perfectly in Rex Ryan's scheme. Babin, in any of his 11 NFL seasons, has never been known as a run stopper. So, the Jets didn't ask him to be one.
Babin was brought in on pass rushing situations and given one task: Get the quarterback. He finished the season with 25 tackles and two sacks, but was better than the numbers indicate. Babin recorded seven quarterback hits and 27 pressures.
He finished with a positive PFF grade of 13.5.
He can still play, has experience in both a 3-4 and 4-3 scheme and could be valuable if used as he was this year.
PLAYER NAME: Jason Babin
POSITION: Outside Linebacker
CAP NUMBER: $1.625
MONEY SAVED IF RELEASED: $1.5
DEAD MONEY: $125k
JETS CAP WITHOUT PLAYER: $40.15
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