Bad NFL teams stay that way when they continuously make awful decisions.

For the New York Jets, the last 15 years of playoff-less football can be chalked up to that very statement. The organization has failed to bring in the right coach, good players, and strong executives simultaneously.

It’s no wonder the team has failed to post a winning season in 10 years.

One of the many things Gang Green cannot seem to nail down is the salary cap. The Jets have over $70 million in cap space, but that number carries a bigger problem.

New York’s dead cap total is around $90 million, no thanks to a new $13.375 million tab from four players.

Jets dead cap charges

Here is the full list of players who are owed money in 2026 that will not suit up for the Jets:

  • Aaron Rodgers – $35 million
  • Sauce Gardner – $11 million
  • Quinnen Williams – $9.8 million
  • C.J. Mosley – $7.6 million
  • Michael Carter II – $6.8 million
  • Quincy Williams – $4.8 million
  • Allen Lazard – $4.6 million
  • Andre Cisco – $4 million
  • Tyrod Taylor – $2.4 million
  • John Simpson – $2.1 million

The Jets’ total dead cap charge is almost $89 million. Only the New Orleans Saints carry a larger charge going into the new year. That means the Jets are paying these select players this season, regardless of whether they are on the roster in 2026.

The fact that the Jets had the second-worst record in the NFL last season, with so much money tied to players who either were not, or will not be, on the roster this season, shows the utter failures the franchise has endured recently.

Many teams around the league use void years to their advantage. Philadelphia is an example of an organization that uses dead cap charges and void years to push tougher contract decisions into the future, while still competing for playoff berths.

New York, meanwhile, has thrown a lot of money around while still not coming close to what the Eagles have done. It’s a good lesson for the current regime on how to build a team correctly.

The silver lining

There is good news, though. Going into 2027, the Jets’ dead-cap situation improves drastically.

The current projections highlight the possibility of some dead Justin Fields money, along with the guaranteed scraps from the Sauce Gardner and Quinnen Williams trades.

Of course, that’s not the case right now, this offseason.

It’s not the most comforting news for a rebuilding team, but it’s something to certainly look forward to.

The Denver Broncos incurred a dead cap charge of $85 million for former quarterback Russell Wilson in 2024. Two years later, they were in the AFC championship game.

Denver proved it can be done, but the New York Jets have a lot to accomplish before they can take a similar path.