Joe Douglas and the New York Jets are expected to have more cap space this offseason than originally thought.
The New York Jets are expected to have more cap space than everybody originally thought, courtesy of an increasing cap.
The NFL’s 2021 salary cap is expected to be around $180-181 million, per ESPN’s Adam Schefter. It’s a number that’s much higher than the $175 million mark previously expected, which means the Jets space will be greater than most pundits expected.
Though the NFL’s salary cap is not expected to be officially set until next month, league sources believe it will be roughly $180-$181 million. Throughout the past season, many expected it to be around $175 million, but it now is projected to come in slightly higher, per sources.
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) February 7, 2021
Spotrac currently puts the Jets’ expected cap space at $72.892 million, while OverTheCap has it at $67.975 million. (The Jets show a projected $75.532 million in top 51 space on the Spotrac side.) Only the Jacksonville Jaguars and Indianapolis Colts have more top 51 space than the Jets, per both Spotrac and OverTheCap. (The Jets edge out the Colts in total roster cap space.)
The Jets offseason blueprint 1.0 that was put together recently saw the Jets start with a little over $65 million in cap space (pulled from Spotrac). Now, estimated to be over $70 million, general manager Joe Douglas has plenty of room to work with by the time free agency comes.
Of course, New York has the option to save even more dough through veteran cap casualties. Henry Anderson‘s dismissal could save $8.2 million, Jamison Crowder could save $10.375 and Alex Lewis could net the team an extra $5.191 million.
The overwhelming fear that the cap would decrease after such a challenging year and season is something that can now immediately end—if Schefter’s report comes to fruition.
Now, the only thing left is to see how Douglas and the organization attack this critical offseason. We all know how much the Ozzie Newsome protege values the NFL draft, but how far is he willing to go on the open market?
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The truth is that the Jets have the most cap space. Henry Anderson will be cut which means 8.2 million more in cap space, and Darnold trade market sounds like a bidding war which means that Darnold will be probably traded (4.6 million more in cap space). If Thuney gets signed, Lewis will get cut (under 5.2 million more in cap space). Crowder may very will be cut or traded which is 10.375 million more in cap space. There are roster bubble players that could be cut. The Colts and Jags don’t have this really and need to sign an expensive LT on top of that, and the Colts are going to probably trade for a QB.