Tag: c.j. mosley

Jets rank last in NFL in dead money

The Jets have the least amount of dead money in the NFL.

For once, the Jets rank last in something positive.

New York has the least dead money in the NFL with just $2.08 million, according to Over The Cap. That money is tied to just four players: TE Ryan Griffin ($686,118), DE Jabari Zuniga ($498,684) QB James Morgan ($357,632) and OT Cameron Clark ($35,496).

This is in stark contrast to what the Jets’ dead cap situation has looked like recently. New York had the third-most dead money over the previous three seasons with $117 million over that span, per Warren Sharp. The Jets paid 20 players a combined $31 million last year alone with the likes of CB  Trumaine Johnson, QB Sam Darnold and RB Le’Veon Bell still on the books.

Those numbers were all thanks to poor drafting and poor free agent signings by Mike Maccagnan during his tenure as the Jets’ GM. Joe Douglas did his best to rid the team of those bad deals when he joined the Jets in 2019 and is finally starting to see the fruits of his labor in 2022.

Not only do the Jets have their financials cleaned up from the previous regime, but the team doesn’t have too many bad contracts left on the books that would force them to incur any more major dead cap hits. The biggest potential dead money hits are tied to players the Jets have no interest in moving right now, like C.J. Mosley, Carl Lawson, Corey Davis and John Franklin-Myers.

Having so little dead cap means the Jets are using almost all of their cap space on players who can actually help the team now. It also helps that Douglas adopted the strategy of building through the draft rather than overpaying for players or signing deals that aren’t team-friendly.

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New York Jets’ top 10 cap charges in 2022

C.J. Mosley and Corey Davis are among the Jets’ top cap charges in 2022.

Joe Douglas has had to navigate some rough salary cap situations since his tenure with the Jets began. But heading into 2022, New York’s financials are looking very clean – as evidenced by their biggest cap hits.

None of the Jets’ cap hits exceed $17.5 million in 2022, and their most expensive player, LB C.J. Mosley, only ranks 37th in cap hits among all NFL players.

Here’s a look at New York’s top-10 cap charges in 2022:

Free agent LB Kwon Alexander visiting Jets

Kwon Alexander is visiting the Jets on Tuesday. The linebacker played for Robert Saleh with the 49ers from 2019-2020.

Former Saints, 49ers and Buccaneers LB Kwon Alexander visited the Jets Tuesday, per ESPN’s Adam Schefter.

Alexander, 27, is an eight-year veteran who has played the SAM, WILL and middle linebacker positions. He played 13 games in Robert Saleh’s 49ers defense from 2019-2020 after a productive four-year career with the Buccaneers. San Francisco traded Alexander to New Orleans midway through the 2020 season. He played 12 games for the Saints over the past two seasons.

Alexander’s positional versatility and experience could help a young Jets defense, but he comes with a substantial injury history. Alexander has played just one 16-game season and has endured significant injuries. Alexander suffered a torn ACL in 2018, a torn pectoral muscle in 2019, a torn Achilles in 2020, and an elbow injury in 2021.

Alexander has tallied 521 combined tackles, 43 tackles for a loss, 27 QB hits, 12.5 sacks, eight interceptions and 10 forced fumbles in his career.

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No. 17 picks in the NFL draft in past decade

With the Chargers currently holding the 17th overall pick in the 2022 NFL draft, check out the last ten players selected at that spot.

With the Chargers picking 17th overall in the 2022 NFL draft, here is a look at the past 10 years of No. 17 selections.

Jets 2021 End of Year Awards: Picking MVP, Breakout Player, and more

Jets Wire hands out its end of the year awards, including MVP, Breakout Player of the Year and more.

The Jets concluded another disappointing season with a 4-13 record and a second straight last-place finish in the AFC East. New York took baby steps in the right direction under first-year head coach Robert Saleh, but his team’s play still left plenty to be desired most weeks.

With the 2021 season wrapped up, we thought we should hand out some awards. Here, Jets Wire shares its picks for MVP, Offensive and Defensive Player of the Year, Rookie of the Year, Breakout Player of the Year and more.

Let’s get into it.

Jets’ 4 biggest strengths heading into 2022 offseason

The Jets have a lot of needs to address this offseason, but here are a few positions they don’t have to worry about.

The Jets have a lot more needs and weaknesses than strengths heading into the 2022 offseason.

Multiple positions lack clarity and others need serious upgrades. Even more require depth. But there are a few positions that Joe Douglas and Robert Saleh won’t have to worry about this offseason. The list is short, but let’s look at a few areas Gang Green won’t have to fix before next season.

Jets KR Braxton Berrios named first-team All-Pro

Braxton Berrios was the only Jets player to make the All-Pro team after leading the NFL in yards per kick return.

Only one Jets player made the Associated Press first-team All-Pro team: return specialist Braxton Berrios.

He’s the first Jet to make the All-Pro team since safety Jamal Adams in 2019. Berrios is also the third Jets special teams player to make the cut, joining Andre Roberts (2018) and Leon Washington (2008).

Berrios led the NFL with 30.4 yards per kickoff, finished second with 852 total kick return yards, and returned one kick for a touchdown in the Jets’ Week 16 win over the Jaguars. That score won him AFC Special Teams Player of the Week honors.

Berrios earned 27 of the 50 first-place All-Pro votes. He also received two votes as a punt returner.

Berrios didn’t just contribute on special teams. He also caught 46 receptions for 431 yards and two touchdowns and rushed 10 times for 69 yards and two touchdowns. He’s only one of three receivers this season to score two receiving and two rushing touchdowns, joining Deebo Samuel and Jarvis Landry. Berrios’ two rushing scores are the most by a Jets receiver in a single season.

The Jets will have a tough decision to make about Berrios’ future this offseason. He’s an impending free agent. Robert Saleh already said he wants Berrios to return, but it’s unclear how much Joe Douglas is willing to pay a return specialist and gadget player on offense.

While Berrios was the only Jet to make the All-Pro squad, linebacker C.J. Mosley did earn one vote. Mosley finished second in the NFL with 103 solo tackles and fourth with 168 combined tackles in 2021.

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Keelan Cole, pass rush among Jets’ Studs & Duds in loss to Bills

Keelan Cole led the Jets in offensive yards in New York’s Week 18 loss to the Bills. See all of Gang Green’s Studs and Duds:

The Jets finished up the 2021 season with another loss to the Bills.

New York’s offense couldn’t move down the field and the defense eventually crumbled under the pressure of containing the Bills’ potent offense. There weren’t a lot of individual highs or lows for the Jets, but a few players did have standout performances, both good and bad.

Here are our studs and duds from New York’s season finale.

Jets LB C.J. Mosley to recruit free agents, already has a sales pitch

C.J. Mosley isn’t a big talker, but he’s going to recruit free agents to the Jets this offseason. He already has a sales pitch.

C.J. Mosley is the undisputed leader of the Jets’ defense from his middle linebacker position and is one of the most respected presences in the locker room.

Once the offseason begins, he plans on using those traits to try and bring more talent to One Jets Drive.

Mosley said Wednesday that he will do his part to recruit free agents to New York. The Jets currently have just over $48 million in salary cap space, according to Over The Cap, giving Joe Douglas the freedom to fill numerous holes once free agency begins in March.

“I think just being a leader and kind of being put in that situation, I’ll have to say something,” Mosley said Wednesday. “I’m not big on talking to people and trying to recruit people, but that’s part of it.”

The Jets have had their fair share of success in free agency recently. Corey Davis endured a rocky first season as New York’s No. 1 wide receiver, but he was signed at a reasonable price and figures to give Zach Wilson a serviceable weapon to work with in the final two years of his contract. George Fant had a strong season at right tackle before suffering a season-ending knee injury and Connor McGovern played well at center before succumbing to an injury of his own. New York still expects big things from the injured Carl Lawson, as well.

There have been plenty of misses, though, and some of that can likely be attributed to the team’s recent lack of success. The Jets have won just six games over the last two seasons and have not made the playoffs in 11 years. Free agents like to win and there have not been too many triumphs in Florham Park lately.

Mosley’s response to that critique is a simple one: be part of the solution and use your talent to get the Jets out of the AFC East basement.

“You should be the reason why they should win,” Mosley said. “That’s why I came to the New York Jets. I wanted to come here and turn a losing organization around. If you’re scared to come here because you think you might lose, then don’t come.”

Mosley isn’t exactly a vocal player, but his track record could help the Jets sign impact free agents — especially on defense — this offseason. As good as New York’s 2021 draft class looks like it is going to be, the rebuilding process is likely never going to truly take off unless talented players are consistently added from the open market.

If Mosley has his way, 2022 will be the year that happens.

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6 takeaways from the Jets’ Week 16 win over the Jaguars

Zach Wilson edged Trevor Lawrence on a record-setting day. Takeaways from the Jets’ Week 16 win over the Jaguars.

Zach Wilson: 1
Trevor Lawrence: 0

That’s the head-to-head score between the top-two picks after the Jets snapped a three-game winning streak with a 26-21 victory over the Jaguars. Wilson got the best of his rookie counterpart. Wilson didn’t play a dominant game, but he did enough to get the Jets back in the win column for the first time since Week 12.

Here are six takeaways from Gang Green’s Week 16 triumph.