Cap casualties are nothing new to the NFL at this time of year. Teams are looking to create as much cap space before free agency begins, and contract restructures or flat-out releases are the way to usually make those things happen.
The New York Jets started their cap-saving method Monday night with the release of veteran guard Laken Tomlinson. The move saved New York over $8 million in cap space.
It's not the only move they need to make to open up space.
The highest-paid player on the Jets next season is not their four-time NFL MVP quarterback or their first-team All-Pro cornerback. It's veteran linebacker and defensive captain C.J. Mosley.
It's with Mosley that the Jets have their hardest decision to make this offseason. A restructure of the Pro Bowl linebacker's contract is certainly something that Gang Green content. Should New York rework the contract of their captain, they would save over 10 million.
The kicker here is that if they make Mosley a post-June 1st cut, the team would save a whopping $17 million while only having to eat $4 million in dead cap.
There are those both inside and outside the organization who think cutting Mosley would be a terrible decision. After all, as the defensive leader, the former first-round pick recorded over 150 tackles this season for the third straight year. He's the heart and soul of a top-five defense and has been a model for leadership inside and outside of the building.
But the hard truth of the matter is that teams should always be looking to get rid of a player one year before his prime is up. Mosley will be 32 years old when the 2024 season rolls on and showed some signs of struggle late in the year.
New York also has a young Jamien Sherwood who enjoyed something of a breakout season in 2023 to fill the shoes of Mosley should he leave the team. Sherwood's 76 Pro Football Focus grade was among the highest at his position despite playing less than Mosley and First-Team All-Pro Quincy Williams.
Because of the depth at the position and the large-cap number that would be off the books in 2024, the Jets could very well be in a spot where the value of Mosley as a leader isn't enough to extend his contract with a restructure, or keep him the highest paid player on the team.
The linebacker position has lost a lot of value in recent years due to teams focusing on stopping the pass and investing in the defensive line. Having your highest-paid player be a linebacker isn't exactly a strong use of resources.
It's why the conversation around a defensive captain like Mosley won't be easy to have.
For the Jets' long-term success though, it just might be the key to adding enough pieces on offense to be a contender.
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