Tag: Trumaine Johnson

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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Jets dead cap: 20 players account for over $31 million

The Jets have the 9th-most dead money in the league. Here’s a look at the 20 players accounting for over $31 million.

The New York Jets‘ salary cap situation includes a lot of dead money.

Between free agent signings that didn’t pan out, trades and other roster cuts, the Jets owe a shade over $31 million in dead cap to 20 different players, according to Over The Cap. While this mostly includes former Jets, there are a few current players on the list.

Below are the 20 players accounting for all that dead money.

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Ex-Jets CB Trumaine Johnson cut from Panthers practice squad

The Panthers cut former Jets cornerback Trumaine Johnson from their practice squad on Friday.

Former Jets cornerback Trumaine Johnson is back on the unemployment line.

The Panthers released Johnson from their practice squad on Friday in order to make room for kicker Kai Forbath. Carolina signed Johnson to its practice squad on Sept. 19, but the 30-year-old did not last a full week with the organization.

The Jets parted ways with Johnson this past offseason following an underwhelming and tumultuous two-year stint with the team. Former GM Mike Maccagnan inked Johnson to a five-year, $72.5 million deal with $34 million in guaranteed money in 2018 to make him New York’s highest-paid defensive back since Darrelle Revis. However, Johnson never came close to holding up his end of the bargain, routinely getting burned in coverage and caught not giving his maximum effort.

Johnson started 10 games for the Jets in 2018, recording 40 tackles, five pass breakups and four interceptions. Despite the four interceptions, he graded out as one of the worst cornerbacks in the NFL that season. Last year was more of the same, as Johnson struggled again before landing on season-ending injured reserve with an ankle injury after only seven games.

It remains to be seen if Johnson will draw any interest now that he is back on the open market. If the Montana product does not hear from any teams soon, it could mean the end of what has been a lucrative NFL career.

Report: Panthers cut Trumaine Johnson, re-sign Kai Forbath to practice squad

Let him be forever known as Panthers legend Trumaine Johnson.

Let him be forever known as Panthers legend Trumaine Johnson. The former Jets and Rams cornerback didn’t last long in Carolina. Johnson has been released from the team’s practice squad, according to a report by Joe Person at the Athletic.

Johnson was signed six days ago along with kicker Kai Forbath, who got waived on Monday to make room for offensive lineman Aaron Monteiro. Forbath is back on the practice squad now, taking Johnson’s place. This is just the latest in what’s become a revolving door of moves involving the cornerbacks at the bottom of the roster and the practice squad.

Late in the offseason, the team signed former Saints cornerback Eli Apple, but he started the season on injured reserve. Apple can return to the active roster as early as next week, though. That may be the reason the Panthers felt they could afford to cut Johnson.

The team also picked up former Eagles corner Rasul Douglas off waivers just before the games began. Douglas has already worked his way into the starting lineup opposite Donte Jackson. It will be interesting to see if that continues once Apple is reactivated.

If the Panthers aren’t don’t searching for more depth at this spot, they could consider bringing back Ross Cockrell. He was signed to the Buccaneers practice squad a few days ago and is unprotected.

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Panthers add secondary, special teams depth with Kai Forbath, Trumaine Johnson

Here is a breakdown of today’s moves.

The Carolina Panthers made a series of moves involving their active roster and their practice squad on Saturday afternoon, bolstering their interior defensive line depth as well as their secondary and special teams units.

Here is a breakdown of today’s roster moves.

DT Woodrow Hamilton elevated to active roster

With two starting defensive linemen out on Sunday, Carolina looked to replenish their roation inside by promoting Woodrow Hamilton to the active roster. Hamilton (6-foot-3, 315 pounds) is entering his fifth season in the NFL, but most of it was spent on the practice squads of the Patriots, Saints and Panthers. Hamilton did log two regular season games in New England but failed to make much of an impact, totaling three combined tackles. This is Carolina’s first of two allowed elevations for Hamilton before he must be signed to their 53-man roster.

CB Trumaine Johnson signed to practice squad

After Donte Jackson’s Week 1 injury, the Panthers were left thin at the position, forced to play Rasul Douglas just days after picking him up off waivers. Although Douglas was a clear winner in that game, the team still needs more help with Eli Apple still on 3-week injured reserve. Enter Trumaine Johnson, the eight-year veteran who has played in over 100 games with the Rams and Jets. Johnson (6-foot-2, 213 pounds) has totaled 392 combined tackles and 23 interceptions with 77 starts. He’s a strong candidate to be elevated to the 53-man roster soon.

K Kai Forbath also signed to practice squad

Like Johnson, Forbath has spent many years in the league playing for several different teams. Now, he joins Carolina’s practice squad just a week after the team release Kaare Vedvik, who was signed as a safety net for Joe Charlton. Although Charlton had two booming punts against the Raiders last week, coach Matt Rhule has maintained his desire to keep an extra leg around. In 81 games Forbath has a career field goal % of 86.8. If Joey Slye continues to struggle with short kicks, he may get a look.

To make room for Forbath and Johnson, the team released a couple of practice squad players.

DB T.J. Green released from practice squad

Cutting Green is a mild surprise, as he was wearing a black jersey early in training camp, denoting his status as a defensive starter. Obviously the defensive coaching staff changed their minds about him, as he was also released when rosters were cut down.

OL Aaron Monteiro also released from practice squad

The signing of Monteiro (6-foot-7, 320 pounds) never made much sense. He was added to the team’s practice squad late last season, but never saw real playing time and failed to make an impression in training camp. Further, the Panthers are currently holding nine offensive linemen on the active roster, one on the COVID-19 reserve list, and three more on the practice squad, leaving little room for another offensive lineman.

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Ex-Jets CB Trumaine Johnson, OL Jonotthan Harrison join Panthers and Bills practice squads

The Panthers added ex-Jets cornerback Trumaine Johnson to their practice squad, while the Bills added OL Jonotthan Harrison theirs.

Two former Jets found new homes on Saturday, as Trumaine Johnson signed with the Panthers’ practice squad and Jonotthan Harrison landed on Buffalo’s practice squad.

Under normal circumstances, Johnson and Harrison would not be eligible to land on a practice squad. However, the NFL’s 2020 practice squad rules allow for teams to keep up to six veterans, with no limits on their amount of occurred service time.

Carolina hosted Johnson for a tryout on Friday, while the Bills brought the veteran cornerback in for a visit Monday. His career with the Jets was marred by injuries and poor play, as Johnson was either sidelined or ineffective when on the field. New York ended its relationship with Johnson this offseason, just two seasons into a five-year, $72.5 million contract with $34 million in guaranteed money.

As for Harrison, he was a surprise release earlier this month, as Joe Douglas called cutting the veteran offensive line depth piece an “excruciating conversation.” The Bills brought Harrison in for a visit prior to their 27-17 Week 1 win over the Jets but opted a week to sign him.

If Johnson suits up for Carolina this season, he will not get the chance to face his former team. However, Harrison may get the chance to take on the Jets when Buffalo makes its yearly trip to MetLife Stadium in Week 7.

Panthers make a few practice squad moves Saturday afternoon

The Panthers elevated DT Woodrow Hamilton to the active roster and signed two more free agents.

The Carolina Panthers shifted around a few players on their practice squad early Saturday afternoon.

Following the news that defensive linemen Kawann Short (foot) and Yetur Gross-Matos (concussion) would sit out Sunday’s divisional matchup versus the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, the team brought up Woodrow Hamilton to the active roster to provide depth on the interior line. Hamilton spent the last season on the Panthers practice squad and looks to do the same this year, but with some weekly appearances on the active roster from time to time.

As for the other moves, the team hosted kicker Kai Forbath for a visit not long after releasing practice squad kicker and punter Kaare Vedvik. Although rookie punter Joe Charlton had a good game versus the Las Vegas Raiders last week, Forbath is a good insurance policy for the team in case all doesn’t continue to go well for the undrafted free agent.

The other signing to the practice squad was cornerback Trumaine Johnson, who visited with Forbath and will now take defensive back T.J. Green’s spot on the 16-man squad. Offensive lineman Aaron Monteiro was also released, an expected move given that Carolina is still carrying three other players at his position on the practice squad.

Panthers host free agents K Kai Forbath, CB Trumaine Johnson for visits

Panthers host free agents K Kai Forbath, CB Trumaine Johnson.

According to the league’s transaction report, the Panthers hosted free agent kicker Kai Korbath as well as former Rams and Jets cornerback Trumaine Johnson for visits on Thursday.

The Panthers are thin at cornerback after placing Eli Apple on injured reserve (though he’s eligible to return after Week 3) and with Donte Jackson leaving Sunday’s loss to the Raiders with an ankle injury, although he has been practicing this week so far.

Johnson came into the league in 2012 as a third-round pick of the then-St. Louis Rams. He spent six seasons with that team and was part of their move to Los Angeles. He played in 85 games with 62 starts for the Rams and totaled 327 tackles and 18 interceptions.

Johnson then moved on to the Jets in free agency but injuries limited him to 17 games (15 starts) in his two seasons, where he posted 65 tackles and five interceptions. He missed nine games in 2019 with an ankle injury. Johnson was cut by the Jets just two seasons into a five-year, $72.5 million contract. That contract has been regarded by some as one of the worst free-agent signings in recent memory.

Forbath has bounced around the NFL since entering in 2012 with Washington. He has played for six teams, including the Saints, Vikings, Jaguars, Cowboys and Patriots. Forbath has kicked in 16 games since 2017, when he was an 84.2 percent kicker and 34/39 on extra points. In four total games last season between Dallas and New England, Forbath was 11/11 on field goals and 11/12 on extra points.

According to the Charlotte Observer, they’re considering adding Forbath to their practice squad after recently releasing Kaare Vedvik.

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7 potential options for the cornerback-needy Giants

The New York Giants are starved for cornerbacks and here are seven free agents they should consider signing.

The New York Giants were prepared to enter the 2020 season relatively thin at the cornerback position, but they couldn’t have prepared themselves for what was to come.

DeAndre Baker found himself in hot water following an arrest for an alleged armed robbery in Florida, ultimately landing him on the commissioner’s exempt list, and then Sam Beal decided to opt out of the 2020 season due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

An already thin group became a dire cause for concern, and with training camps now underway, the Giants find themselves running out of time to locate reinforcements.

We’ve broken down similar lists earlier this year, but now is the time to do it again. Here are seven cornerbacks the Giants could potentially turn to in the coming days, weeks and months.

Scott R. Galvin-USA TODAY Sports

Logan Ryan

This will sound like a broken record, but Ryan is the most obvious choice for the Giants because he’s arguably the best cornerback remaining on the free agent market. He’s also been connected to the team quite a bit through rumor and speculation.

Back in March, Ryan praised Giants head coach Joe Judge, while Giants Wire also listed him as an under-the-radar free agent to sign around the same time.

The former Rutgers and New England Patriots star should be very high on the Giants’ shopping list. They need a veteran corner who knows the ropes and how to win and the connection to Joe Judge and Patrick Graham has to come into play here.

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Report: Jets never had serious interest in Jadeveon Clowney

The Jets never had a serious interest in free-agent Jadeveon Clowney, that opinion remains unchanged, even with added salary relief.

While the Jets now have the flexibility to add a premium pass-rusher like Jadeveon Clowney, they were never seriously interested in him in the first place, according to ESPN’s Rich Cimini.

New York recouped $11 million in salary relief after officially releasing Trumaine Johnson, who had a post-June 1 designation. Now, that it’s June, the Jets may have a chance to make a late splash, but it won’t be for someone like Clowney. As Cimini mentions, the Jets’ stance on the pass-rusher hasn’t changed, even with more money in the organization’s pocket.

Regardless of his dropping price-tag, Clowney wouldn’t fit the mold of free agents that Joe Douglas has targeted this offseason. The Jets general manager isn’t one to hand out big contracts to big-ticket free agents. At the same time, Clowney’s recent lack of production and durability concerns point to why he’s still on the open market.

After being shipped from Houston to Seatle in a contract year, Clowney fared rather poorly, recording 31 total tackles, three sacks, four forced fumbles and an interception in 13 games.

While Clowney is viewed as one of the prominent pass-rushers in the NFL, it’s more to do with his former draft slot than production. The former No. 1 overall pick out of the University of South Carolina has never had a double-digit sack season, which coincides with Clowney only playing one full 16-game season in six years in the NFL.

The Jets now have the cap room to plug roster holes, but don’t expect them to do so with Clowney.