After handing corner back Trumaine Johnson a hefty five-year, $72.5 million contract with $34 million guaranteed in 2018, the New York Jets expected the defensive back to cement his status as one of the best in the NFL.
Well, things didn’t exactly go according to plan. With a myriad on injuries and two benchings in just two short years after signing the deal, New York plans to part ways with the 30-year-old corner.
Per Manich Mehta of the New York Daily News, general manager Joe Douglas no longer sees Johnson as a part of the team’s future plans. The team will likely release him prior to March 20 in order to avoid paying his $11 million salary for this upcoming year.
Over a two year span with the Jets, Johnson only suited up for 17 games and finished the 2019 season on injured reserve. He’ll finish his Jets career with five interceptions, seven pass breakups and 65 total tackles.
Now that the Jets have a vacancy at corner back, expect Douglas to pursue one of the top tier free agent corners once free agency officially opens next week. Byron Jones, Chris Harris Jr. and James Bradberry will all more than likely be on the Jets’ radar.
