The New York Jets are set to receive some additional cap space this offseason.
Former NFL agent and current CBS Sports analyst Joel Corry revealed that the Jets are set to receive a $7 million cap credit for releasing Aaron Rodgers during the offseason.
“Since Rodgers’ contract was structured with multiple option bonuses, the total dead money would have increased from $49 million to $63 million by bringing him back for another year,” Corry said.
“The Jets will be getting a $7 million cap credit in 2026 from the $7 million of 2025 proration relating to the $35 million option bonus for a 2029 contract year that wasn’t picked up due to Rodgers being released. The cap credit is reducing the 2026 dead money from $35 million to $28 million,” Corry explained.
Gang Green Made the Right Choice for the Long Term
NFL analyst Will Parkinson said this is “good news” for the Jets.
“If the Jets had kept Rodgers for 2026, the dead money would’ve been 63 million in 2027 as opposed to the 14 and then 28 million split over 2025 and 2026,” Parkinson explained on social media.
Would the Jets have won a few more games with Rodgers at the helm versus Fields? Undoubtedly, but how many more?
Two or three more wins? That would still have left the Jets on the outside of the playoff picture, looking in. Plus, their cap situation would be a nightmare.
ESPN’s Rich Cimini described this new development as “less painful.”
“The 2026 cap hit for Aaron Rodgers isn’t as large as originally thought. It will be $28 million, not $35 million, according to Joel Corry of CBS Sports. The Jets received a $7 million cap credit, the prorated portion of an option bonus that wasn’t exercised. It was applied to this year’s cap, raising his cap charge from $14 million to $21 million,” Cimini explained.
Week 14 Jets Inactive List Revealed
Ahead of the Jets’ scheduled Week 14 home game versus the Miami Dolphins, the team posted the inactive list.
That group includes quarterback Justin Fields, tight end Jelani Woods, wide receiver Tyler Johnson, pass rusher Braiden McGregor, defensive tackle Mazi Smith, safety Tony Adams, and defensive back Ja’Sir Taylor.
Not a lot of surprises in the group.
Fields was ruled out on Friday by head coach Aaron Glenn due to knee soreness. That means undrafted free agent Brady Cook will fill in as the QB2 behind Tyrod Taylor.
“You can’t help but wonder if we’ve seen the last of him in a Jets’ uniform. Glenn, noncommittal on Fields’ status for next week, is intrigued by rookie Brady Cook, who moves into the QB2 role,” ESPN’s Rich Cimini wrote.
“If Cook remains the backup for the rest of the season, he’d have a shorter runway to actual playing time. Fields’ knee soreness flared up Wednesday, Glenn said — one week after Fields expressed ‘mixed feelings’ to reporters about the prospect of being used in a gadget-type role. In that interview, a week after his benching, Fields said he was ‘still not necessarily as healthy as I want to be right now.’ He hasn’t played since his demotion,” Cimini added.
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