Jets officially cut LB C.J. Mosley and QB Aaron Rodgers
Jets linebacker C.J. Mosley during an NFL game against he Tennessee Titans on Sept. 15, 2024, in Nashville, Tenn. Credit: AP/John Amis
The start of the new NFL year on Wednesday signaled the end of the Jets careers of Aaron Rodgers and C.J. Mosley.
The Jets released Rodgers and Mosley and designated both of them post-June 1 cuts. It means their dead cap charges will spread across two seasons.
Rodgers will cost the Jets $14 million this season and $35 million next year. For Mosley, it’s $8.8 million this season and $7.6 million next. The Jets will have an additional $13.5 million in cap room as of June 2.
The Jets announced they were moving on from Rodgers last month. The Mosley move was announced Wednesday and expected after injuries limited him to just four games last season.
“It is hard to move on from a player like C.J. Mosley who has given everything of himself to an organization,” first-year coach Aaron Glenn said in a statement.
Mosley signed a five-year, $85 million contract with the Jets in 2019. Last year, he had a nagging toe injury and suffered a non-contact neck injury warming up in New England in Week 8 and missed the rest of the season.
The five-time Pro Bowl linebacker and captain of the defense led the Jets in tackles three times. In 56 games with the Jets, Mosley totaled 504 tackles. It’s unclear if Mosley will play next season.
“C.J. was the epitome of a class act as a teammate, player, and leader for the last six seasons,” owner Woody Johnson said in a statement. “The passion and commitment he brought each day to the organization inspired his teammates to give their all.”
Rodgers played 18 games for the Jets over two seasons. He’s free to sign with another team now. The Steelers, Giants and Vikings are possibilities for the future Hall of Fame quarterback.
The Jets made one splashy move through the first three days of free agency. They reached an agreement with quarterback Justin Fields on a two-year, $40 million contract on Monday. Fields has been in Dubai and hasn’t signed his new deal yet, so the Jets haven’t announced it.
They did announce that they re-signed linebacker Jamien Sherwood, their leading tackler last season. Following a breakout season, Sherwood received a three-year, $45 million contract with $30 million guaranteed.
After a quiet Day 2 of free agency, the Jets added some players on Wednesday.
Veteran defensive back Isaiah Oliver is re-signing with the Jets. They also signed former Steelers offensive tackle Chukwuma Okorafor and came to terms with former Packers center Josh Myers and ex-Titans edge rusher Rashad Weaver. Myers played with Fields at Ohio State.
Oliver was a valuable signing for the Jets last year. He appeared in all 17 games, seven of them starts, and saw action at safety and cornerback. Oliver had 57 tackles, three passes defended and a sack. Oliver played for new Jets defensive coordinator Steve Wilks when he held the same title for San Francisco in 2023.
New general manager Darren Mougey and Glenn have focused on the defensive backfield thus far in free agency.
The Jets reached deals with former Ravens cornerback Brandon Stephens and ex-Jaguars safety and Valley Stream product Andre Cisco. They also tendered restricted free agent safety Tony Adams and can match any offers he receives.
Okorafor and Myers are experienced starters and depth pieces on the offensive line.
A third-round pick in 2018, Okorafor started 59 games for Pittsburgh, many at right tackle. That’s a position of need after the Jets lost Morgan Moses to the Patriots in free agency. Okorafor started one game at left tackle for New England last year and then left the team. He was placed on the exempt list and ended the season on the reserve/left squad list.
Myers will sign a one-year, $3.5 million deal, a league source said. He started all 56 games he played for Green Bay after being drafted in the second round in 2021. Joe Tippmann has been the Jets’ starting center. Myers’ familiarity with Fields could lead to a center competition.
Weaver adds depth to the defensive line. He had 49 tackles and 5 1⁄2 sacks in 36 games for Tennessee and Houston. All of Weaver’s sacks came in 2022 with the Titans. Tennessee released him last summer. Weaver appeared in three games for the Texans last year and didn’t record a sack. He ended the year on the Rams’ practice squad.
The Jets still have holes at wide receiver, tight end, defensive tackle and linebacker that they need to fill.
Al Iannazzone covers the Jets for Newsday after spending nearly two decades on the NBA beat with Knicks and Nets.
