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.

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.

2. Laken Tomlinson, OG, NY Jets

Laken Tomlinson is another high-priced veteran who has not lived up to his contract. The Jets signed Tomlinson to a three-year, $40 million contract in the 2022 offseason with the hope that he would serve as an anchor along their offensive line.

Instead, Tomlinson has been a below-average starting guard at best, leading all guards in pressures allowed in 2023. The Jets will have to make a decision on his contract this offseason.

The team can cut Tomlinson and save $8.1 million, but releasing him carries a dead cap charge of $10.74 million. That's a lot of dead money to take on. The other option would be to restructure his contract, pushing dead money into the future.

The Jets would save over $8.5 million by restructuring Tomlinson's contract, and that's probably their most likely option. Either way, Tomlinson's contract is a problem for the Jets.

1. Allen Lazard, WR, NY Jets

Allen Lazard is dangerously close to approaching "worst free-agent signing in Jets history" territory. While he may not be at Trumaine Johnson levels yet, he's in the ballpark.

Lazard was signed to a four-year, $44 million contract last offseason, and he didn't even make it through a full season before being benched. Jets head coach Robert Saleh even publicly alluded to the fact that the team plans to cut him after the 2024 season.

Why then? Unfortunately, the Jets are stuck with Lazard for at least another year. He's set to count over $12 million against the cap in 2024 and will carry significant dead cap hits once he's presumably cut next offseason.

For now, the Jets are stuck paying $12 million to a receiver who was a healthy scratch multiple times last season. That's brutal cap management and a big reason why the Jets don't have more financial flexibility this offseason.