Cap Notes: Fields Traded, Rodgers' $75M Legacy, Minkah's $7.4M Hit, and More
The Aaron Rodgers saga is almost over. Once the 2026 season ends, the ordeal can be completely behind us.
As Adam Schefter first reported, the Jets have traded Justin Fields to the Kansas City Chiefs for a 2027 sixth-round pick.
It’s a little shocking that the Jets were able to get a trade done and didn’t have to release him, but taking on $7 million of the $10 million of his guarantee helped facilitate the deal.
The Jets will take on $19 million in dead cap in 2026 for the trade.
Now let’s take a look at the total bill, through the end of the 2026 season, for the New York Jets.
Aaron Rodgers $75,050,000
Justin Fields $27,000,000
Allen Lazard $22,000,000
Davante Adams $11,590,000
Geno Smith $3,300,000
That totals $138,940,000.
These are the players that were acquired by the Jets as a direct result of the Rodgers trade, or the idea of its potential. Lazard’s trade probably bolstered the desire for Rodgers to be traded to the Jets.
The Jets, outside of the first-round pick swap, also traded 2023 second-round and sixth-round picks and a 2024 second-round pick for Rodgers, and they traded a 2025 third-round pick for Davante Adams.
As a result of moving on from Rodgers, Fields, Lazard, and Adams, the Jets also lost $84,811,726 in cap space in the last two seasons.
All in all, it was one of the worst trades in Jets history.
New contract information
The contracts of two recently acquired players have become available. Let’s take a look at their impacts on 2026 and beyond.
Minkah Fitzpatrick
Total Value: 3 years, $40 million, $20.5 million guaranteed.
Base salaries: $5.5 million (2026), $13 million (2027), $12.5 million
Signing Bonus: $7.5 million
Per-Game Roster Bonus: $500k annually
Explanation of 2026 cap charge
In 2026, Fitzpatrick will cost $7,411,765 against the salary cap. That consists of his base salary, 1/5 of his signing bonus (two void years), and $411,765 of his $500k per-game roster bonus.
The Jets are only responsible for 14/17 of his roster bonus in 2026, because he was inactive for three games in 2025. If he’s active for more than 14 games in 2026, there will be a cap adjustment for each additional game not charged in 2027. For anything under 14 games, they receive a credit.
Kingsley Enagbare
Total Value: 1 year, $9 million, $8.49 million guaranteed
2026 Base salary: $3.49 million
Signing Bonus: $5 million
Per-Game Roster Bonus: $510k
Explanation of 2026 cap charge
The Jets are responsible for most of the money in 2026. They added four void years to the contract to take on $4 million in dead cap in 2027. Since Enagbare was active for the entire season in 2026. That means the Jets are responsible for all of the per-game roster bonus. However, they will receive a credit for any games he’s inactive.
While Enagbare does have a deadcap charge of $4 million in 2027, it doesn’t necessarily have to be that way. He’s entering his age-26 season, and still has room to grow. The Jets don’t have to let the contract void. The void years can become real years with an extension, if they choose to do that.
2026 Week 1 Cap Projection
Here’s a look at where I think the team will stand with the initial 53-man roster. In this projection, there are still three roster spots open.