Four Jets players will see their contracts void today.
Teams sometimes structure deals that void on a certain date.
Simpson, for example, signed what was nominally a five year contract in the 2024 offseason, but it was written with a clause to automatically void after year two. Because this contract was for five years on paper, the Jets were able to pay Simpson $12 million the last two years but only be charged $7.7 million against the salary cap. The other $4.3 million in charges was pushed to the last three years of the deal.
Voiding a contract essentially means the player is automatically cut on a certain date. Thus the entire $4.3 million bill becomes due on the Jets salary cap in 2026.
The process works the similarly way for these other players.
Void years have become a common mechanism for NFL teams to kick salary cap hits for players down the road. When used effectively, they can help good teams keep important players. When used ineffectively…well…you can just look at the Jets’ salary cap ledger from the last few years to tell you all you need to know.