NY Jets: Trumaine Johnson release becomes official today

The NY Jets’ release of cornerback Trumaine Johnson become official today.

The NY Jets have officially released cornerback Trumaine Johnson today putting a final end to his disastrous two-year stint with Gang Green.

It’s done. It’s as official as official gets. Trumaine Johnson is no longer a member of the NY Jets.

The Jets originally designated Johnson as a post-June 1st cut back a couple of months ago. And now that the date has arrived, Johnson has officially been released.

The post-June 1st designation allows the Jets to spread the remaining $12 million in dead cap out over the next two seasons. The Jets will carry a $4 million dead cap charge in 2020 and a whopping $8 million charge into 2021.

So even though Johnson may be gone, the organization won’t be fully rid of his salary until 2022.

Nonetheless, this move clears up an additional $11 million in cap space which should bring the team to around $25 million left to spend. That said, around $9 million of that will likely go to their rookie class leaving them realistically with around $16 million.]

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What could the NY Jets do with that cap space?

That’s enough to make a move or two if the team chooses to do so. There are still a number of intriguing players left on the free-agent market including the likes of Jadeveon Clowney, Logan Ryan, and Larry Warford.

But it doesn’t seem as though the Jets are in a hurry to sign any of them at the moment.

As for Johnson, this release signifies the end of one of the worst stints a player has had with the Jets organization in their history. Back in 2018, then-general manager Mike Macagnan signed Johnson to a massive five-year, $72.5 million contract.

And yet after two abysmal seasons in green and white, Johnson is gone and he’ll still be receiving money from the Jets long after Maccagnan has left. It’s very possible that this was the worst signing in franchise history.

At the very least, it’s up there with the Muhammad Wilkerson and Neil O’Donnell disasters.

The Jets will be just fine without Johnson as their cornerback group is showing more promise than it has in years. After playing just seven games last season — only five of them in the starting lineup — Johnson was replaced by younger, more efficient talent once he went down with an injury.

Because of Johnson’s struggles and injury troubles, the Jets were able to see players like Blessuan Austin and Arthur Maulet unexpectedly shine. And with that mindset, perhaps the Jets owe a bit of gratitude to their former prized free agent.

Regardless, now that it’s finally official, both sides could do what’s best and move on. And thus one of the worst two-year runs any player has ever had with the Jets is finally over.