Jacksonville Jaguars set up for success thanks to salary cap space

The Jacksonville Jaguars are expected to have the most salary cap space in the NFL in 2021. It’s a bit of an odd year, as the total salary cap for each team has decreased 11.2 percent since the 2020 season due to COVID-19 implications. It’s yet to be discovered just how much this decrease in the cap will affect NFL franchises.

NFL front offices are typically savvy about working new player contracts around the cap limit, considering the salary cap has increased every year up until now But now they have to get creative as there is $22.2 million less in their pocket to sign talented players to their roster.

All salary cap information courtesy of Over the Cap.

The Jaguars have plenty of cap space for moves

The Jaguars are expected to have an estimated $74 million free in cap space. They are also expected to have the most cap roll over from 2020 with about $23 million. Plenty of roster moves and transactions are imminent within the Jacksonville organization and having enough cap space to work with is crucial. Thankfully, they have just that.

Jaguars to add even more space with cuts

The Jaguars will also likely make some cuts that will clear even more room financially, even if it’s minimal. Tight End Tyler Eifert is likely to be one of the first to be let go this offseason. Cutting Eifert will save the team roughly $5.25 million in cap space.

Disappointing 2018 first-round draft selection, defensive tackle Taven Bryan could be another.; Cutting him would save nearly $1.2 million in cap but lose about $2 million in dead cap.

Cap space allows Jaguars to add veteran presence

One of the biggest issues facing Jacksonville during the 2020 season was the lack of experience on the team. The Jaguars had one of the youngest rosters in NFL history and used the highest number of total players this season.

Having plenty of cap space to work with benefits the Jaguars in their search for veteran players in the free agency pool. It also allows them to explore a few potential trades for a top-tier player or two—which Jacksonville has to consider based on their number of needs on defense.