New York Jets' Salary-Cap Breakdown by Position
It’s a salary-cap league, and the front office must keep a close watch on how much is spent on each position.
The costly, high-profile free agents needed to elevate a slumping team are seeking a generous payout. Fortunately, the New York Jets don’t have to penny-pinch thanks to John Idzik.
Each positional group will be analyzed in perspective with the spending across the league. Based on the comparisons, positional expenditures are considered excessive or accommodating for high-priced free agents where they're needed.
Quarterbacks: Cap Hit $1.95 Million
1 of 9
Geno Smith and Matt Simms are the only two quarterbacks under contract for 2015, and still, there’s no room for Michael Vick. It’s more about the need for competition than a financial bind. Regardless, none of the impending free-agent QBs deserve a lucrative deal.
The Jets ranked 29th in QB contract value, and their collection of signal-callers are worth that modest price. Smith is entering his third year, and the window is closing on his opportunity as a starter in the league.
The front office should hold its chips, hoping for a better crop of QBs in next year's free-agent market or draft pool.
Running Backs: Cap Hit $9.85 Million
2 of 9
Gang Green had the third-most rushing yards in 2014. The financial dilemma comes to the forefront at the end of the 2015 season.
Both Chris Ivory and Chris Johnson become unrestricted free agents. Ivory will seek a substantial payout if he puts together consecutive solid seasons in New York as the featured back.
The front office should be able to retain Ivory and lose very little sleep about letting Johnson walk. Johnson is actually the more expensive running back on the books in 2015. Gang Green can get ahead of the curve by releasing Johnson in the offseason, saving $3.5 million.
Tommy Bohanon will likely continue his duties at fullback, earning $600,000 in 2015.
Wide Receivers: Cap Hit $23 Million
3 of 9
By far, wide receivers eat up most of the Jets' cap space (14.87 percent), ranking sixth among all contract values for wide receiving corps across the league.
With that said, the Jets don’t have a No. 1 receiver currently on the roster. The passing attack was the worst in the NFL in 2014. Smith and Vick deserve some of the blame, but the WRs weren’t exactly breaking off crisp routes and creating separation from defenders.
The Jets could save $10.5 million and recover nearly half the lofty cost by giving Percy Harvin the boot. He was inconsistent for eight weeks in New York.
Furthermore, the QB situation won’t improve significantly enough to expect a breakout year from the seven-year WR. Save some cash and bring in fresh talent.
.jpg?w=256 "Colts Jaguars Football")
Tight End: Cap Hit $4.05 Million
4 of 9
Gang Green's cap hit for tight ends is a modest expenditure. Jace Amaro is a developing talent who showed flashes in 2014. Jeff Cumberland isn’t as gifted in receiving, but he is still solid in blocking schemes.
The Jets have enough depth behind Cumberland to allow the 27-year-old TE to walk after his contract expires at the end of the 2016 season. Zach Sudfeld was on the field for 13 percent of the offensive snaps, per Football Outsiders, in 2014. He would likely fill Cumberland’s spot as a pass-blocking tight end.
Offensive Line: Cap Hit $30.25 Million
5 of 9
The offensive line is a mixed bag.
On one hand, contract values for guards rank 30th in the league.
Inversely, D’Brickashaw Ferguson and Breno Giacomini have substantial contract values. Ferguson’s contract will climb to $14.11 million by the 2016 season. Giacomini’s remains stagnant at $5.13 million for the next three years.
Center Nick Mangold is set to earn $10.41 million in 2015, followed by a slight decline to $8.6 million in 2016.
Ferguson was the 35th-ranked tackle in 2014 and struggled mightily in run-blocking schemes with a minus-5.3 rating, per Pro Football Focus. He should be a candidate for a restructured deal before the $14.11 cap hit in 2016 when he turns 33 years old.
Defensive Line: Cap Hit $12.38 Million
6 of 9
The Jets aren’t spending a substantial amount on the defensive line, but that’s subject to change.
According to Dom Cosentino of NJ Advance Media for NJ.com, owner Woody Johnson plans to extend Muhammad Wilkerson's contract: "I think that's something that we'll be looking at, starting Tuesday, when we get our first staff in there. We're going to take a look at Mo; Mo's obviously a great player. In terms of getting all that going, I'm sure that will be one of their priorities."
There are two X-factors for the Jets. Should they match potential offers for restricted free agent Damon Harrison? Secondly, a switch to a 4-3 defense will require another defensive end, assuming Sheldon Richardson and Wilkerson are moved to the middle as defensive tackles.
Harrison doesn’t rack up sacks to gain notoriety, but he’s a solid run-stopper. He was ranked third among all defensive tackles with a 16.8 rating in rush defense, per PFF. Expect the Jets to re-sign him to keep their run defense solid.
Linebackers: Cap Hit $7.30 Million
7 of 9
Both inside and outside linebacker contract values rank in the bottom third in the league.
Quinton Coples enters the last year of his rookie deal. Calvin Pace is on the tail end of his contract set to expire at the end of the 2015 season. Demario Davis also enters the final year of his four-year deal, earning slightly under $2 million.
David Harris is the only question mark heading into this year’s offseason.
The front office will be forced to get younger with three expiring contracts in 2015 and Harris’ desire to play for a contender in the latter stages of his career.
Gang Green should keep tabs on Vic Beasley and Eric Kendricks in the draft to replenish its linebacker corps. The cost will remain low, and production shouldn’t experience much of a drop-off.
Defensive Backs: Cap Hit $9.20 Million
8 of 9
The young defensive backs on the Jets roster are playing out their rookie deals or were signed with short-term minimum contracts.
Dee Milliner is the most prominent of the bunch, though he has proved very little. He’s the most costly of nine defensive backs on the roster, set to make $3.45 million in 2015.
Gang Green can afford to bring in at least one high-profile free agent at cornerback as the anchor of the secondary.
General manager Mike Maccagnan should seek a veteran worth a mid-level contract to avoid overspending on talents like Byron Maxwell, Perrish Cox and Chris Culliver.
Free agents Antonio Cromartie and Tramon Williams have lengthier resumes as lead cornerbacks. Both veterans will also sign at a significantly cheaper cost than Maxwell, Cox or Culliver.
Special Teams: Cap Hit $3.24 Million
9 of 9
Kickers and punters are often dismissed, but Nick Folk was New York’s most consistent offensive skill player.
The Jets were third in field goals made in 2014 partially due to a sluggish offense. Nonetheless, Folk was relatively reliable within an offense struggling to score points.
Punter Ryan Quigley struggled a bit, only pinning opposing teams inside the 20-yard line 23 times in 2014, ranked 22nd in the league. Quigley has one more year on his contract before becoming a restricted free agent in 2016.
Punting issues are seen as minuscule, but if the Jets offense continues to frequently go three-and-out, field positioning becomes crucial. Quigley could be replaced if he doesn’t get his act together.
Advanced statistics provided by Pro-Football-Reference.com and Pro Football Focus
Player contract details provided by spotrac.com and overthecap.com
.jpg?w=480 "Colts Jaguars Football")
.png?w=480)
