FLOWERHAM PARK, NJ – In preparation for free agency and the potential addition of quarterback Aaron Rodgers, the New York Jets restructured three veteran contracts to create $13.1 million in salary-cap room.
They reworked three players from their 2022 free-agent class — guard Lake Tomlinson, cornerback DJ Reed and tight end Tyler Conklin — a source told ESPN’s Field Yates on Saturday.
Earlier, the Jets redrafted CJ Uzomah, another member of the 2022 class, and released wide receiver Braxton Berrios.
All told, that’s a cap savings of over $21 million. They had to make the move because they were just over the $224.8 million cap. Teams will have to comply with the cap by March 15, the start of the new league year.
And now they wait for Rodgers to make a decision on his future. He could request a trade to the Jets, retire or return to the Green Bay Packers, which doesn’t seem likely.
Jets brass, including owner Woody Johnson, flew to Southern California on Tuesday to meet Rodgers. On Friday, Packers president Mark Murphy confirmed that he has given the Jets permission to speak with the four-time MVP.
For obvious reasons, both the Jets and Packers want a solution from the start of free agency. The legal loophole period begins on Monday.
Meanwhile, the Jets could do more tricks. Pro Bowl linebacker CJ Mosley ($21.5 million cap) is a candidate for renegotiating his contract. Wide receiver Corey Davis ($11.2 million) and safety Jordan Whitehead ($10.2 million) could be cap casualties.
In order to rework the Tomlinson, Reid and Conklin contracts, the Jets converted their 2023 base salaries into signing bonuses while pro-rating the amounts over the final two years of the contracts. No zero years added. Each player is signed through 2024.
