Game on Sunday could be last at home for many Jaguars players

With the release of safety Barry Church on Friday, the Jacksonville Jaguars may have already begun making moves to release veterans this offseason.

In a surprise move on Friday, the Jacksonville Jaguars announced the release of veteran safety Barry Church. The free agent who signed with the team last offseason had lost his starting position to rookie Ronnie Harrison.

With the move, the question of what this team will look like in 2019 has aleady crept into the minds of local and national media. With some wiggle room because of the salary cap and veteran players with big contracts ahead of them, the Jaguars as an organization must decide who will stay and who will go after the 2018 season ends on Dec. 30.

“In my mind, if I’m third or fourth on the depth chart making $14.5 million to $15 million, I don’t see too much future for me in Jacksonville,” defensive tackle Malik Jackson said Wednesday via the Florida Times-Union. “I’m not trying to be a journeyman by any means. But it’s a business and soon as you try to forget that then it’s a rude awakening for sure.”

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Yes, it’s a business and a player is only as good as his last game. The Jaguars defense looks good on paper and through stats complied the entire season, but it is not the same mix of force and domination it once was. Talk of being the best in the NFL before this year has turned into finger pointing and questions about play calling. Now, the team will move forward with three games remaining on the schedule as if they are playing for pride and roster spots for the 2019 campaign.

Malik Jackson was a Pro Bowl selection in 2017 and is now standing on the sidelines as other players have moved into the starting lineup, looking to give this team an edge with run defense.

"As John Reid explained, “If the Jaguars move on from Jackson, they would save $11 million in cap space if they release him before June 1, per overthecap.com. However, Jackson’s contract would still count $4 million in dead money in 2019.”"

The $7 million savings could be used to help fortify another position or bring in another defensive tackle at a much cheaper price.

Jackson isn’t the only one who is on the “bubble” when it comes to his tenure in Jacksonville. The team must also decide if they can keep both Calais Campbell and Marcell Dareus. Blake Bortles may have also played his last game in Jacksonville. The much maligned quarterback has been benched in favor of Cody Kessler.

"“You see guys go through things and handle it the right way,” Jackson said. “You see older guys get pushed out of the league and you don’t understand it but they’re still fighting.”"

The players in the locker room are not the only ones who may be looking for work elsewhere in 2018. The coaching staff has come under fire for lack of productivity this season, leading to the firing of offensive coordinator Nathaniel Hackett earlier this season. Also, head coach Doug Marrone  said on numerous occasions he knows the performance of this team and the lack of productivity falls on him.

The rumor mill has also speculated there could be changes in the Jaguars front office. No matter what happens the remainder of the season, the Jaguars roster figures to look a lot different in 2019.