New York Jets: 3 low-profile players who could be cap casualties

The New York Jets will be looking to clear some cap space this offseason and here are three under-the-radar players who could become cap casualties.

The New York Jets are expected to overhaul a good portion of their roster in the offseason after a disappointing 7-9 season.

With 22 players set to hit unrestricted free agency — the second-most in the NFL — they should have ample opportunities to do so. However, don’t expect the team to just stop there.

Outside of their pending free agents, the Jets have a number of players they could look to move on from in an attempt to shed some additional cap space. For the purpose of this piece, we’ll be focusing on some of the low-profile players the team could move on from.

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Players like Avery Williamson, Brian Winters, and Trumaine Johnson have already been heavily-discussed as likely cap casualties. But what about some of the under-the-radar players on the roster who might be cut in the coming months?

Here are three lesser-known players the Jets could make cap casualties sooner rather than later.

Next: 3. Matthias Farley

3. Matthias Farley, S

Matthias Farley was one of the few Joe Douglas acquisitions made prior to the start of the season as the fourth-year safety was signed in late August after being released by the Indianapolis Colts.

Farley had spent the previous three years with the Colts after originally going undrafted in the 2016 NFL Draft. He did spend the entire 2017 season as a starter finishing with 98 tackles and two interceptions while manning the strong safety position.

However, after an injury-shortened 2018 season, the Colts felt comfortable moving on from the former Notre Dame standout.

Farley would go on to play in 13 games with the Jets in 2019 playing almost entirely on special teams. The 27-year-old played just four defensive snaps all year coming in Weeks 9 and 10 as a result of injuries.

But outside of that, he was exclusively a special-teamer.

Farley is set to hold a $1.2 million cap hit in 2020 which is considerably high for a player who played essentially only on special teams and failed to record a single tackle.

The Jets could likely get someone to fill his same production for much cheaper in 2020 making it very likely he’s cut before the start of the new season.

Next: 2. Josh Bellamy

2. Josh Bellamy, WR

One of the more confusing signings of the free-agent period was former general manager Mike Maccagnan’s decision to sign special-teamer Josh Bellamy to a two-year, $5 million during the first stage of free agency.

It was a move that seemed questionable at the time and one that definitely backfired on the team.

Bellamy would play in seven games with the Jets hauling in just two catches for 20 yards before finding himself on the injured reserve in early November. And that might be all he accomplishes in his Jets career.

The soon-to-be 31-year has made a career out of being a superb special-teamer, but it makes little sense to keep him around at his current cap figure. Especially considering how well the Jets special teams played in 2019 without him for the majority of the season.

Bellamy will carry a cap hit of $2.25 million with him into 2020 but the team has a potential out in his contract. It will cost them $910,000 in dead cap but come with a savings of $1.34 million making it worth it in the long run.

Considering the Jets could better allocate that money elsewhere, this seems like an easy decision.

Next: 1. Darryl Roberts

1. Darryl Roberts, CB

If Bellamy’s contract wasn’t the most confusing signing of the offseason, the one given out to cornerback Darryl Roberts is the only one that could top it.

Roberts played exceedingly well in 2018 when thrust into a starting role which left fans clamoring for his return in 2019. However, few expected the Jets to go into the season with him as a starting corner.

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Yet, that’s exactly what the team decided to do.

Despite being a career backup, Roberts was handed a three-year, $18 million contract in the offseason and put into a full-time starter role opposite Trumaine Johnson.

And after one season, it’s safe to say that decision didn’t go according to plan.

Roberts regressed in a big way in 2019 spending time sidelined with an injury before ultimately being replaced in his starting role by the likes of Blessuan Austin and Arthur Maulet.

Fortunately, the Jets have a potential out in his contract and they could choose to let him go without any dead cap. And considering Roberts is set to make nearly $6 million in 2020, it seems very likely that that’s the path they take.

Don’t expect to see Roberts back with the Jets in 2020, especially at his current cap hit.