Jacksonville Jaguars need to keep tabs on this potential Jets cap casualty

The Jacksonville Jaguars may need to replenish their wide receiver corps if Keelan Cole and Chris Conley walk away in free agency. Although there are going to be plenty of options in the open market, there may be another one if the New York Jets release wide receiver Jamison Crowder.

Cody Benjamin of CBS Sports recently wrote about 25 potential big-name cap casualties and Crowder made the cut. Benjamin says that the Jets don’t really need to cut the wide receiver but then adds that they may not be inclined to keep him at his current salary. He’s set to count $11.37 million against the cap and could free up $10.37 million in cap space with a $1 million dead cap hit.

Benjamin believes Crowder is not spectacular but could fill the role of a number-three wide receiver. A fourth-round selection by the Washington Football Team in 2015, the Duke standout signed a three-year $28.5 million contract with the Jets in 2019. In his two-year stint in the ‘Big Apple’, he has hauled in 137 receptions for 1,532 yards and 12 touchdowns and according to Pro Football Focus, he lined up in the slot on 73 percent of the 596 offensive snaps he played in 2020.

Why would it make sense for the Jacksonville Jaguars to pursue Crowder?

It’s not a sure thing the ‘Gang Green’ is going to move on from Crowder and even if they do, there may be better options available in the open market. Nevertheless, the Jaguars could be inclined to pursue him if they aren’t interested in investing top-money at the wide receiver position in free agency and are looking for someone to handle slot duties in 2021.

On the other hand, the Jags could opt to re-sign Cole and if they do, the need to pursue Crowder would decrease significantly. Keep in mind that Cole can line up anywhere on the field and can also moonlight as a returner but if he hits the open market, this Jacksonville team should consider adding Crowder.