The Jets announced that they cut cornerback Trumaine Johnson after the official start of the new league year on Wednesday afternoon. The Daily News reported last week that the team had already informed Johnson that they were going to part ways with him when the NFL calendar turned over.
The team designated Johnson as a post-June 1 so that it could spread Johnson's $12 million dead money charge over the next two seasons ($4 million in 2020 and $8 million in 2021).
Johnson pocketed $34 million in the first two seasons of a blockbuster five-year, $72.5 million deal. He will be remembered as one of the biggest disappointing big-money free-agent signings in franchise history with just five interceptions and seven pass breakups in 17 games for the Gang Green.
Johnson's turbulent time with the Jets included a team-enforced suspension for the 2018 season finale, a litany of injuries (quad, hamstring both ankles) and a benching last season. Some people in the organization believed that he wasn't fully invested in football and questioned his love for the sport.
"Of course I love football," Johnson told the News last year. "I've been doing it all my life. I'm passionate about it. It's my life. It's not a job to me. I love what I do."
The Jets were hoping that a reunion with Gregg Williams, who got the best out of Johnson when they were together with the Rams, would help the player get back on track. But it obviously didn't.
The 30-year-old Johnson made $64.7 million over the past four seasons despite never having made the Pro Bowl in his eight-year career.
