5 contracts holding the NY Jets back right now

The NY Jets enter the 2024 offseason with just under $5 million in cap space. For an organization that hasn't had a winning record since 2015, it certainly isn't ideal to be in such a tight cap situation.

Of course, the Jets still have plenty of financial flexibility, and that cap number will rise significantly over the coming weeks. Nonetheless, that figure is representative of what the Jets are currently working with.

There are a handful of really bad contracts on the Jets' books right now. Some of those contracts were given to players who are still productive but just not worth what they're being paid. Others are essentially like burning money.

Let's take a look at five contracts holding the Jets back as they enter the offseason.

5. C.J. Uzomah, TE, NY Jets

C.J. Uzomah is almost definitely going to be a cap casualty this offseason. The veteran tight end is entering the final year of his three-year, $24 million contract in 2024, and it's hard to envision a scenario in which the Jets keep him around.

Unfortunately, because general manager Joe Douglas restructured Uzomah's contract last offseason, releasing him this year carries a sizable dead cap penalty.

The Jets will save $5.3 million in cap space once he's released, but he will carry a dead cap hit of $5.92 this season. His contract will still be on the books through the 2027 season.

That's not ideal, given that Uzomah caught just eight passes last season and was benched in favor of Jeremy Ruckert. That contract restructure was a short-sighted move that Douglas likely wishes he could undo.