Cutting ties with cornerback Trumaine Johnson and his albatross of a contract is a foregone conclusion this season as the Jets are expected to absorb a $12 million hit against the cap for a player who won’t suit up for them in 2020, but according to ESPN’s Rich Cimini, a new CBA could allow the Jets to defer some of that massive hit.
Should the proposed CBA gain approval, the Jets would be allowed to spread their $12 hit over two seasons, taking a $4 million hit in year 1 and an $8 million hit in year two.
Cimini had this to say regarding the situation:
The outcome of the collective bargaining agreement vote will have an impact on the Jets’ salary cap — specifically, with regard to cornerback Trumaine Johnson. A new CBA would benefit the team because they would be able to spread out Johnson’s cap hit over two seasons — $4 million this year, $8 million in 2021. The Jets can do that by designating him as a “June 1” cut. Under the existing CBA, there’s no June 1 option because the agreement expires after this season. That means his cap hit would accelerate into 2020 — a whopping $12 million charge. Johnson’s release is inevitable, but the Jets could be waiting to see if they get bailed out by a new CBA. They have to make a decision by March 20, when his $11 million salary for 2020 becomes fully guaranteed.
It’s still $12 million down the drain, but gives Joe Douglas an additional $8 million to work with this off-season. For all of Cimini’s notes on the Jets, click here.