Jets Salary Cap update: Where does New York stand at the end of March?

The Jets signed 10 players in the past two weeks, mostly on inexpensive and short-term deals.

With the first wave of free agency over, Joe Douglas and the Jets brought in 10 players over the last two weeks. The Jets signed a few potential starters but mostly built up some depth at linebacker, defensive back, offensive line and receiver.

New York kept a few of its top players from 2019 by re-signing linebackers Jordan Jenkins, Neville Hewit and James Burgess, as well as defensive backs Arthur Maulet and Bennet Jackson. They also grabbed linebacker Patrick Onwuasor, cornerback Pierre Desir, guards Greg Van Roten and Josh Andrews, and wideout Breshad Perriman on the open market.

Jenkins, Desir and Perriman are poised to start. That’s not guaranteed for Onwuasor, Van Roten, Hewitt, Burgess and Maulet, but all have ample starting experience as well. 

Douglas played it safe with his money and only handed out flexible, cheap short-term contracts. As a result, the Jets officially have $45,016,813 in cap space, according to ESPN’s Field Yates. Counting reported moves that are not official yet, however, they have closer to $32,530,780 – per OverTheCap.com. The discrepancy is because the Jets technically haven’t officially signed a few of their free agents. Typically, a free agent must pass a team physical before the signing can be official, and some teams haven’t conducted physicals on all of their new players with the closure of team facilities due to the coronavirus pandemic.

Douglas looks to have shored up a few positions of need, but there are still positions the Jets should look at as free agency continues. Cornerback and receiver need work despite the signings of Desir, Maulet and Perriman, and the Jets still don’t have a suitable backup quarterback or running back. There is still a chance the Jets cut players like Avery Williamson and Brian Winters to save even more money.

With a little over $32 million left to spend, Douglas can still find some quality players on the market to solidify his roster.