The Jets have trapped themselves ahead of the NFL Draft! Although this is not new; the team does it every year. But, what exactly happened? Actually, the Jets need to fix a lot of positions. And with these big changes, the most pressing issue for them right now is cap money. One after one, the team has been getting big problems, that too just before the NFL Draft. And in this tight place, they’ve received a massive warning regarding one of their biggest star player. Uh-oh!

With new head coach Aaron Glenn, the Jets were looking for a successful season this year. They let go of their former QB, Aaron Rodgers, and were eager for a fresh start. But, things did not proceed as planned. And the new league year has only just begun. So, what happened? Well, the Jets are dealing with some serious cap concerns. But there’s one thing the team is planning to cover these cap concerns. Avoiding to sign any other Cornerback in the upcoming NFL Draft.

If we look at it objectively, the squad does not need a new CB. They have Sauce Gardner, and now they also have Brandon Stephens. But things don’t end here. The rumors have in that their best CB Sauce Gardner and his contract can become a major problem for the team in the future. Let’s rewind a bit. On May 7, 2022, the CB signed a four-year contract with the New York Jets worth about $33.45 million, which includes a $21.5 million signing bonus. This was the year the New York selected the CB, and if you recall this was the same year when Texans drafted Derek Stingley Jr.

Recently, Derek Stingley Jr. became the first player from the 2022 Draft to receive a contract extension. And man, what an extension it is. The CB received a three-year, $90 million contract deal with $89 million guaranteed, making him the highest-paid defensive back in NFL history. And speculations are that after this extension, now it’s Sauce Gardner’s turn to get something similar. After all, the CB has been fantastic over the last three years and arguably deserves a bigger contract too.

This has been rumored around the market, and the Jets will undoubtedly dislike it. The team already has a tight cap situation, and granting Gardner a hefty deal extension would leave them with little room left. That is actually a major worry. But how come the Jets are in such turmoil with only two signings?

Aaron Rodger’s release has significantly impacted the Jets’ cap space

It was evident that New York would release A-Rod. The veteran was injured in his first year with the organization, and when he returned, he was way off. The man had a terrible season on the field last year and was unable to lead the club effectively. While the Jets terminated him, the QB still delivered one of the team’s most devastating hits. Actually, Aaron Rodgers joined the New York Jets in 2023. And if you recall, the QB inked a three-year, $112.5 million contract with $75 million guaranteed.

Ideally, this deal averaged $37.5 million annually. And for 2025, Rodgers was set to have a cap hit of $23.5 million but the Jets released him. Due to this, Aaron Glenn’s team has a large dead cap owing to its former QB at about $49 million. The Jets would have been in big trouble if they hadn’t taken a different strategy with this release. The team actually chose to cut Rodgers after June 1, spreading the cap hit across two years. They will now pay the QB $14 million in 2025 and $35 million in 2026. HC Aaron Glenn has even openly discussed the situation, and believes the club is capable of dealing with it.

Instead, the HC claimed, “This thing is about the roster, and everyone is under the microscope.” The team replaced Rodgers with Justin Fields, signing him to a two-year contract. The Jets have offered Fields a $40 million contract, which includes a $15 million signing bonus and $30 million guaranteed. That may be an offer no one can reject. Things continue to look positive and fascinating for New York and only time will tell what the team will do at the NFL Draft.