5 contracts holding the NY Jets back right now

4. C.J. Mosley, LB, NY Jets

C.J. Mosley is one of the most important players on the Jets' roster and is coming off what was likely his best season as a member of the organization. That doesn't mean he's worth what he's being paid, however.

Jets fans can blame former GM Mike Maccagnan for signing Mosley to a record-setting five-year, $85 million contract prior to the 2019 season. Mosley is set to carry a cap hit of $21.48 into 2024 — the highest on the roster.

The Jets don't have an easy out of his contract, either, as it would cost the team over $10 million to release him. A restructure is their best bet to get his cap hit down, although that would push even more dead money into the future.

Mosley is already on the books for nearly $6 million in 2025, even though he isn't under contract. Expect that number to climb if the Jets restructure his deal again, which seems to be the most likely outcome.

3. Carl Lawson, DE, NY Jets

Carl Lawson isn't under contract with the Jets next season, and it's hard to imagine the team will look to bring him back in the offseason. That doesn't mean his contract isn't still hurting the team, however.

The Jets had the opportunity to release Lawson last year and save $15 million in the process. The move would have carried precisely $0 in dead cap penalty. Instead, the Jets opted to restructure his contract, pushing dead money into the future.

Lawson would play just six games, failing to record a single sack after injuring his back in the summer. The Jets would love to cut their losses here, but Lawson is still on the books for a whopping $6.3 million in 2024.

Lawson will have a higher cap hit in 2024 than Garrett Wilson, Alijah Vera-Tucker, Jermaine Johnson, Breece Hall, and Joe Tippmann, and he won't even be on the roster. This was a massive blunder on the part of Joe Douglas.