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          NFL Nation

          Jets have enough cap cash ($73M and climbing) to win offseason

          Expect the Jets to be major players when it comes to courting Kirk Cousins.

           Jonathan Newton/The Washington Post via Getty Images
          • Rich Cimini, ESPN Staff WriterFeb 16, 2018, 07:00 AM ET
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              Rich Cimini is a staff writer who covers the New York Jets and the NFL at ESPN. Rich has covered the Jets for over 30 years, joining ESPN in 2010. Rich also hosts the Flight Deck podcast. He previously was a beat writer for the New York Daily News and is a graduate of Syracuse University. You can follow him via Twitter @RichCimini.
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          The last time the New York Jets enjoyed this much salary-cap flexibility was 2015, and they weren't shy about using it. They doled out $76 million in guarantees to sign free agents, ranking third in the NFL.

          Once again, they're in position to be an offseason power broker. As of Thursday, they were second in available cap space -- $72.8 million, according to ESPN Stats & Information. (The figure is based on a projected $178 million cap.) With three weeks to go before free agency, here are several things to know:

          • The Jets will be aggressive -- to a point. They're expected to make a serious run at quarterback Kirk Cousins, widely regarded as the No. 1 free agent. If they don't sign him, it doesn't mean they will take the money earmarked for Cousins and spend it recklessly on other positions. General manager Mike Maccagnan, who believes in building through the draft, will be cautious about overspending.

          The widespread belief around the league -- and the Jets share this view -- is that the overall talent level in free agency has declined in recent years. A rising cap has allowed teams to retain their best players. It's unusual for a quality starter to get to free agency in the prime of his career, which is why the Jets are so hot for Cousins.

          • Thinking long term. Maccagnan has said on numerous occasions that he's not looking for quick fixes. They Jets are in the midst of a massive rebuild, so he wants players who can stick around and see it through. He will look for players entering free agency for the first time, which puts them in the 24-to-26 age group. Naturally, those players cost more.

          • More money coming. The Jets can create $18.7 million more in cap space with three anticipated cuts -- defensive end Muhammad Wilkerson ($11 million in savings), running back Matt Forte ($3 million) and backup tackle Ben Ijalana ($4.7 million). If Wilkerson is designated a post-June 1 cut, the savings increase to $17 million because $6 million would be deferred to 2019. But that wouldn't take effect until June 1. Until then, they'd have to carry his full cap charge ($20 million) through free agency even though he would not be on the roster. They probably can afford to do that because they have so much cap room, but it seems unlikely.

          • Can't forget about their own players. The Jets have 16 unrestricted free agents, at least three of whom they'd like to retain before they go to market -- cornerback Morris Claiborne, middle linebacker Demario Davis and tight end Austin Seferian-Jenkins (likely in that priority order). Re-signing the trio would eat up an estimated $16 million to $20 million in cap space. It'll cost approximately $3 million to retain wide receiver Quincy Enunwa, a restricted free agent who probably will receive a second-round tender. Throw in a few lesser in-house signings, plus another $10 million for the draft, and you're talking about a total of $35 million in this category.

          Even with that, they'll still have enough to sign Cousins and make a couple of other splashy additions.