The Jets are in good shape financially after dealing Jamal Adams and a 2022 fourth-round pick to the Seahawks in exchange for two first-round picks, a 2021 third-round selection and safety Bradley McDougald on Saturday.
McDougald, who will slide into Adams’ spot at strong safety, brings a $4.1 million charge to the Jets’ salary cap, according to ESPN’s Rich Cimini. The 29-year-old is owed $3.6 million in non-guaranteed salary, plus $500,000 in weekly roster bonuses. However, his contract expires at season’s end, giving New York additional salary cap flexibility in 2021.
According to Over The Cap, the Jets currently have $158 million committed to the 2021 cap. That number will drop once Adams’ $9.9 million salary comes off the books, which is important because of an anticipated drop in revenue due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The lack of revenue caused by the coronavirus could cause the league salary cap to drop as low as $175 million next year, which would crush a handful of teams next offseason.
The Jets are not one of those teams, though. In fact, they are in good shape financially moving forward. New York had $21 million in salary cap space after signing its draft picks and before dealing Adams. In an effort to save up for the 2021 free agency cycle, the Jets could elect to save that money and not spend it unless they find a player worth paying for on the open market between now and the beginning of the 2020 season.
Carrying any unused salary cap space into 2021 might not be a sexy move, but general manager Joe Douglas is not one to actively pursue splashes — especially at the expense of New York’s financial flexibility. If Douglas and the Jets decide to save their unused cap space for 2021, that extra money will come in handy once free agency rolls around next March.