Trumaine Johnson Cut by Jets After Signing $72.5M Contract in 2018 | News, Scores, Highlights, Stats, and Rumors
James Holden The move comes two years after the team signed him to a five-year, $72.5 million contract.
By releasing him now, the Jets absorb $12 million in dead money, though the New York Daily News' Manish Mehta noted the new collective bargaining agreement allows them to spread the hit over 2020 ($4 million) and 2021 ($8 million).
Mehta first reported March 9 the Jets were planning to move on from Johnson and informed the 30-year-old of their decision. New York's front office was waiting to see if the new CBA would get approved, thereby laying out the financial implications.
Johnson appeared in 17 games for the Jets with 65 combined tackles and five interceptions during his two seasons in the Big Apple.
USA Today's Andy Vasquez wrote that New York wanted the former Los Angeles Rams star to anchor their secondary, only to see him fall well short of expectations: "They got an underperforming player who was burned repeatedly, committed brutal penalties in key spots, couldn't stay healthy and became a distraction off the field. He was benched during the final game of his first season for tardiness and early in his second season for poor play."
NFL Network's Ian Rapoport chimed in to say Johnson was "one of the worst free-agent signings in recent memory."
Ralph Vacchiano @RVacchianoSNYThe five-year, $72.5 million contract the Jets gave Trumaine Johnson, which included $34M in guarantees, turned out to be one of the worst in franchise history. By cutting him, they clear $11M in cap space. He leaves $4M in dead money this year and $8M in 2021.
The Jets have re-signed Brian Poole to a one-year, $5 million deal, per ESPN's Rich Cimini, but will probably look to add another corner to replace Johnson. The Dallas Morning News' Calvin Watkins reported they had shown interest in longtime Denver Broncos cornerback Chris Harris Jr., but Harris told Josina Anderson of ESPN on Wednesday that he intends to sign with the Los Angeles Chargers.
In his most recent mock draft, Bleacher Report's Matt Miller projected New York to select Virginia cornerback Bryce Hall with the No. 79 overall pick.
