5 high-profile cap casualties the NY Jets can target this offseason

The NY Jets are expected to turn over every stone when it comes to improving their roster this offseason. How could they not?

Following a 4-13 season in 2021, the current Jets regime needs to start translating offseason success into on-field success. The NFL is a results-driven business, and six wins in two years isn't going to cut it.

General manager Joe Douglas knows this, which is why he's hinted at a more aggressive approach this offseason. Most assume that aggression could come on the trade market, but that's not the only opportunity Douglas will likely look to take advantage of.

Every year, teams see a number of players that they hoped would hit the open market ultimately snatched up by their respective franchises, either via extensions of franchise tags. But the inverse is also true.

Players who weren't expected to become free agents get released in cost-saving moves. The Jets were able to capitalize on this last June when they signed the recently-released Morgan Moses to a one-year deal.

Moses would go on to start virtually the entire season at right tackle, doing an admirable job in the process. Who could be this year's Morgan Moses for the Jets? Or, more importantly, could they do even better?

Let's take a look at five high-profile stars who could find themselves as cap casualties this offseason.

5. NY Jets target: Za'Darius Smith, OLB, Green Bay Packers

We start with two players who share plenty of similarities — first up is Za'Darius Smith. Smith was forced to miss all but two games in 2021 while dealing with a back injury.

But when on the field, he's proven to be one of the most disruptive pass rushers in football. In his two prior years in Green Bay, Smith totaled 26.0 sacks en route to consecutive Pro Bowl appearances and second-team All-Pro honors in 2020.

However, the Packers are desperate for cap space, and with Smith's cap hit ballooning to over $27 million in 2022, they might have no choice but to move on.

Whether in a trade or via a release, don't expect Za'Darius Smith to be playing for the Packers next year. The Jets could take advantage of the opportunity to add a star pass rusher who had played all 16 games in each of the three seasons prior to 2021.

4. NY Jets target: Preston Smith, OLB, Green Bay Packers

Za'Darius Smith might not be the only former high-profile pass-rusher signing named 'Smith' that the Packers are forced to move on from. Preston Smith finds himself in a similar situation. Only in his case, he played this past season.

Smith had somewhat of a down year in 2020 finishing with just four sacks after a 12-sack performance in 2019. But with Za'Darius Smith sidelined, Preston Smith stepped up and finished with nine sacks and a team-leading nine tackles for loss.

At 29-years-old, Smith is still going strong and while he doesn't offer quite the same pass-rush upside that his teammate does, he's still a really good player. However, the Packers need cap space.

Smith's $19.72 million cap hit is hefty and the Packers could move on and save over $12 million. If Green Bay chooses to release either (or both) of their star pass rushers, the Jets should be all over it.

3. NY Jets target: Marcus Peters, CB, Baltimore Ravens

Marcus Peters is yet another star player with a big salary coming off a major injury. The multi-time All-Pro was forced to sit out the entire 2021 season after tearing his ACL just prior to the start of the year.

Peters should need no introduction. He's a three-time Pro Bowler, two-time All-Pro, and despite playing just six seasons in the league, he's already third on the active interceptions leaderboard.

Since being traded to the Ravens, Peters has continued his dominance racking up an additional seven interceptions in just 24 games. He has 31 interceptions, seven defensive touchdowns, and nine forced fumbles all in just 91 career games.

Marcus Peters is everything the Jets' defense needs. And there's a chance they'll have an opportunity to scoop him up this offseason.

Now, the Ravens don't want to move on from Peters, especially after a 2021 season in which they finished with the 32nd-ranked pass defense without him.

But with multiple key pending free agents and Lamar Jackson's extension to worry about, they might not have much of a choice. Peters feels like more of a candidate to be traded than outright released.

Either way, the Jets should be involved.

2. NY Jets target: DeMarcus Lawrence, DE, Dallas Cowboys

We're going to finish off this list with two Dallas Cowboys, the first of which is yet another star pass rusher. DeMarcus Lawrence has been one of the better pass rushers in football for years now.

He's been a staple of the Cowboys' defense for the better part of the last decade, but his time in Dallas could be coming to an end this offseason.

Lawrence is set to carry a cap hit of $27 million into the 2022 season, but the Cowboys could save $8 million in cap space by releasing or trading him. They could save even more by doing so after June 1st.

The Cowboys obviously don't want to do this, but if it comes down to choosing between him and the cheaper Randy Gregory, they might have an interesting decision to make.

Lawrence played just seven games in 2021 due to a broken foot and hasn't recorded more than seven sacks in a season since 2018. He's still been a highly effective pass rusher, but the sack numbers haven't been there.

On top of that, he turns 30-years-old in April and is coming off an injury-riddled season. It's hard to justify him being worth almost $30 million.

I'm not sold the Cowboys straight-up release Lawrence, but it is a possibility they could entertain. And when a player of his stature and reputation becomes available, the Jets have to be involved.

1. NY Jets target: Amari Cooper, WR, Dallas Cowboys

Perhaps even more volatile of a situation than DeMarcus Lawrence is the one Amari Cooper currently finds himself in. The Cowboys' $100 million man has fallen short of the unprecedented expectations set by his hefty contract.

But don't take my word for it, take it straight from the mouth of team owner Jerry Jones who expressed his frustration with Cooper's lack of dominance shortly after the season concluded.

This, of course, has led to speculation that Cooper could be on the move this offseason. And given the size of his cap hit and the potential savings from such a move, it certainly makes sense.

Cooper is obviously still a very good wide receiver. He's recorded over 1,000 in all but two of his seven NFL seasons, one of which was this past season when he finished second on the team with 865 yards.

With players like CeeDee Lamb and Dalton Schultz taking on greater roles in the Cowboys' offense, Cooper doesn't feel like a necessary piece, especially at $22 million per year.

The Cowboys could look to trade the 27-year-old Cooper who undoubtedly still has plenty of value. While an outright release would be surprising, the Jets could still target Cooper in search of a true No. 1 wide receiver.

Is Amari Cooper that? That's a question the Jets would have to answer. But there's no doubt a trio of Cooper, Corey Davis, and Elijah Moore is very intriguing going into 2022.

Expect the Jets to at least explore Cooper's market if he becomes available.