Despite adding a player with one of the biggest contracts in sports, the New York Jets actually freed up a massive amount of cap space following Monday’s Aaron Rodgers trade.
After more than a month of speculation and negotiations, the New York Jets finally landed the player they had been targeting the entire offseason when they completed a trade for future Hall-of-Famer Aaron Rodgers.
The blockbuster trade is seen by many as the move that should move the New York Jets from a team contending for a playoff spot to one that could be competing for a Super Bowl title early next year.
In adding Rodgers’ massive contract, which gives him an annual payout of $50 million, many would expect that the team is done making big moves this offseason. However, on Tuesday, NFL Media league insider Ian Rapoport revealed that in completing the deal, the Jets actually now have a boatload of excess funds to add more proven players to the roster this season.
“For his 2023 salary, the Jets picking up Aaron Rodgers’ already guaranteed option bonus of $58.3M means that it converts to a signing bonus for cap reasons — creating $43.7M of cap space and making his 2023 hit $15.7M.”
– Ian Rapoport
Unfortunately for the New York Jets, all of the impact players that were available in NFL free agency signed new contracts long ago. However, there are several star players that have been rumored to be available in trades as other teams look to free up some space in their own salary caps.
Let’s take a look at four star players the organization could target in the coming days and weeks.
Derrick Henry
There have been rumblings for quite some time that the Tennessee Titans have been looking to get out from under the $10.5 million owed to Derrick Henry next season. While the New York Jets have big hopes for 2022 rookie running back Breece Hall next season, if they are all in on a championship in 2023, the three-time Pro Bowler could be the missing ingredient of what would be a formidable offense.
DeAndre Hopkins
Arizona Cardinals wide receiver DeAndre Hopkins has been on the trade block for a while, however, the team has had little luck in moving him and the two years and $54 million left on his contract. Since the Jets were in on Odell Beckham Jr. before he decided to sign with the Baltimore Ravens, Hopkins would be just as good an addition to what could be a filthy receiving corps. with Rookie of the Year Garrett Wilson and free agent addition Allen Lazard.
Austin Ekeler
Los Angeles Chargers star running back Austin Ekeler is surprisingly available because he wants a long-term contract extension and the team has been unwilling to acquiesce to his desires. A backfield of Hall and Ekeler could be stupendous — if Hall isn’t added to a potential trade. However, unlike Hopkins and Henry, trading for Ekeler would be a big addition for the New York Jets in the short and long term.
Dalvin Cook
Minnesota Vikings Pro Bowler Dalvin Cook has three years and over $33 million left on his contract, and it is why he has been a part of trade rumors despite being an elite talent in his prime. It is just the ugly nature of the NFL and the salary cap.
However, that could benefit the New York Jets if they are willing to add some worthwhile assets in a deal that would easily make the Jets’ offense one of the best in the league in 2023.