From a financial standpoint, both good and bad came along with the Jets’ decision to cut 2019 third-round pick Jachai Polite.
Despite the fact that Polite was signed to a four-year rookie contract, New York saved $495,000 on its 2019 salary cap by parting with the outside linebacker, according to ESPN’s Rich Cimini. However, the Jets will get hit with an $843,000 cap charge next season as a result. Polite also got to keep his $1.1 million signing bonus.
With his signing bonus still intact, Polite remains a millionaire without ever taking a regular season snap for the Jets. New lost a net of $348,000 by cutting the Florida product, but the monetary hit the team took by parting ways with Polite was well worth it considering his porous play in the preseason and even worse attitude off the field. Keep in mind, the Jets fined him more than $100,000 during his short time with the team.
Expect general manager Joe Douglas to reallocate the $495,000 the Jets saved on the cap this year toward improving the 53-man roster. Less than half a million dollars can’t get you a whole lot in the NFL, but it’s best New York has some extra money at its disposal with Douglas still fine-tuning the roster as Week 1 of the regular season approaches.
