Jets Rumors: C.J. Mosley Lands New Contract; Latest Salary Cap amid NFL Free Agency

The New York Jets and veteran linebacker C.J. Mosley reportedly agreed to a two-year contract extension Thursday.

According to ESPN's Field Yates, Mosley is set to sign a two-year, $17.25 million extension with $13.25 million in guaranteed money. That includes $9 million guaranteed in 2024.

Mosley had been set to enter the final year of his deal in 2024, and he had no guaranteed money remaining on the original five-year, $85 million contract he signed with the Jets.

Per Over The Cap, a Mosley extension had the potential to save the Jets $12.632 million against the salary cap in 2024.

Over The Cap currently lists the Jets as having $11.9 million in cap space, but that number may now be up over $24 million.

There was a time when a Mosley trade would've been anything but a surprise considering ESPN's Rich Cimini reported in March 2021 that his roster spot on the Jets "appears shaky" after they acquired linebacker Jarrad Davis. Cimini noted the AFC East team was "open to trading him," even though doing so likely figured to "be difficult because he's owed $14 million in guarantees over the next two seasons."

NFL Network's Tom Pelissero provided additional context at the time:

Still, the trade never came. Mosley also said he was motivated to prove himself around the time of those previous rumors.

"There's a little added chip [on my shoulder] because you've always got your fans that are going to heckle," he said, per Cimini. "When I get back on the field, I definitely want to make sure they respect the name again."

He earned some of that respect by being a bigger part of the Jets defense the past three seasons than perhaps once expected.

Mosley finished the 2021 season with 168 tackles, two sacks and two forced fumbles in 16 games as a bright spot in a disappointing campaign for the team. He then followed that with 158 tackles, seven passes defended, one sack, one interception and one fumble recovery as a Pro Bowler in 2022.

In 2023, he posted 152 tackles, seven passes defended, two forced fumbles and one interception.

The recent performances likely drove up his value, and the Jets decided to reward him accordingly. While there may be some inconsistency at times, he has shown he can still be one of the better linebackers in the league.

The Baltimore Ravens selected him out of Alabama with the No. 17 pick of the 2014 draft, and he made four Pro Bowls in his five seasons with the AFC North team. He also missed just three games during that span as one of the leaders of the defense.

Mosley finished his last full season in Baltimore in 2018 with 105 tackles, five passes defended and an interception as someone who can help stuff the run and stick with tight ends in the aerial attack.

Mosley is still just 31 years old and coming off a stretch of dominant defensive play. The Jets hope he can tap into that once again with a new contract.