C.J. Mosley’s decision to opt-out of the 2020 season has a number of implications on his contract and the Jets’ salary cap.
Mosley voluntarily opted out of the 2020 season due to family health concerns, according to ESPN’s Rich Cimini. Since Mosley voluntarily opted out, he’ll either receive a $350,000 stipend if he’s considered medically higher-risk or a $150,000 salary advance.
As for Mosley’s contract, he still has four years left on the five-year, $85 million contract he signed in 2019. That means the Jets will have control of him through the 2024 season.
According to Over The Cap, Mosley was supposed to have a 2020 cap hit of $17.5 million, but it will now be $10 million, which was his roster bonus. In 2021, Mosley’s cap hit will either be $7.5 million or $7.35 million depending on if he receives the aforementioned $350,000 or $150,000. So the Jets will have more cap space in 2021 because of that, though it remains to be seen what the NFL salary cap will be next season as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic.
In 2022, Mosley’s cap hit will be $17.5 million, $8 million of which is fully guaranteed. His cap charge will be $18.5 million for the 2023 and 2024 seasons. None of these numbers have yet to be finalized, though.
Mosley’s opt-out is obviously a huge blow for the Jets defense. After the Jets traded Jamal Adams to the Seahawks, Mosley was supposed to be the centerpiece of the defense. The Jets have a ton of middle linebacker depth — this news bodes well for Avery Williamson — but Gang Green was anticipating Mosley’s return this year after he missed the majority of the 2019 season.
Now Mosley won’t put a Jets uniform on again until 2021. After playing in parts of just two games in his first season with the Jets, he has already made $29 million off his monster deal.