Salary Cap Update: The outlook with all rookies and Joe Tippmann signed

In our last salary cap update, we asked when Darrell Jackson Jr. might be signed and our answer came just a few days later as the Jets got the final piece of their 2026 draft class under contract. We already knew this wasn't going to affect the Jets' cap space much.

However, they also made a significant deal with the Joe Tippmann extension. So, we can now update on what the cap position is after that move.

Here's where they currently stand:

The NFLPA database currently has the Jets at $28,199,658 in available cap space.

The Jets actually saved about $1 million in current cap space with the Tippmann extension, which is structured like most of the recent Jets long-term deals, with a low year-one cap hit - lower than Tippmann was set to earn in 2026 after earning his year four escalator due to his playing time over his first three seasons. It's also not impossible to trade the contract in the event the Jets opt to press the ejector seat on their current rebuild.

By committing to Tippmann for the next four years, the Jets actually moved up to 9th in terms of having the most cap space in the NFL.

There aren't many other outstanding potential extensions right now, with Harrison Phillips being one name that was floated in the media but seems to be unlikely because he is not expected to be in their longer term plans.

Others like Will McDonald or Jowon Briggs would probably be more likely to be considered during or after next season if they play well.

Ultimately, the Jets may not spend much of that $28 million, although it will probably dwindle as players get hurt and replaced during the year. It does, however, buy them flexibility if they need to sign a camp cut to fill a hole or make a deadline deal, but if they don't use it for that, it will be a useful sum to carry over to next year when they should be active in the offseason once again.