The Jets were waiting for a new collective bargaining agreement to be passed before cutting ties with Trumaine Johnson. Now that that’s happened, Gang Green stands to benefit from Johnson’s imminent release.
The NFLPA voted on the proposed CBA by the NFL and voted 1019-959 in favor of ratifying the deal. Under the agreement, there will be a 17-game regular season, an expanded playoff field, an increase in players’ revenue share, former player benefits and a 10-year labor peace.
A new collective bargaining agreement also clarifies the Jets’ situation with Johnson. With a new CBA in place, the Jets can designate Johnson as a post-June 1 cut, which allows them to divide his $12 million dead cap hit over two seasons.
In 2020, the cornerback’s dead cap hit will be $4 million, while in 2021 it will be $8 million. Under the previous CBA, the Jets would’ve been responsible for Johnson’s entire $12 million charge in 2020.
Now the Jets will have an extra $8 million in cap space for this upcoming free agency period, which officially begins on Wednesday. The league’s tampering window opens at noon on Monday.
Johnson’s Jets career was an utter disaster. He played 17 games over two seasons and only made the secondary worse. Johnson had 57 total tackles, seven pass defenses, five interceptions and one touchdown in two seasons with Gang Green.
Signing Johnson to a five-year deal worth $72.5 million was one of the worst contracts in Jets history. Now his time in New York will come to an end in a matter of days.