Free agency is a tool that NFL teams can use to get better quickly. Just keep in mind that winning the offseason doesn’t always translate into success on the football field during the regular season. On the other hand, the Jacksonville Jaguars shouldn’t shy away from acquiring a few difference-makers this offseason.
After all, the Jags have plenty of cap space, around $58 million, per Over the Cap — $56 million if you ask Spotrac. That’s plenty of money but if they need more, they could release or trade these four players and free up an additional $24 million in cap room.
No. 1 player the Jaguars can release in 2022 – Jawaan Taylor, RT.
Jawaan Taylor is entering a contract year but hasn’t done enough throughout his three-year career to warrant a new deal. While the Florida Product has never missed a game, he hasn’t become a cornerstone of the Jaguars’ offensive line and it’s uncertain at this point if he’s part of the team’s long-term plans.
Head coach Doug Pederson could keep Taylor around and try to get the most out of him but the opposite is true. The team’s brass may have seen enough from the right tackle and are ready to pull the plug on him. If that’s the case, they could shop him around and see if they can find a trade partner. If they don’t, they could release him and free up $2.79 million in cap space with a dead cap hit of $931,077.
Moving on from Taylor becomes a possible outcome if the Jags re-sign Cam Robinson, or draft Alabama offensive tackle Evan Neal, and move Walker Little to right tackle. Similarly, they could re-sign Robinson, plug Neal at tackle, and have Little line up on the right side. In either scenario, Taylor would become expendable.
No. 2 player the Jaguars can release in 2022 – Marvin Jones Jr., WR.
You could make the case that the Jaguars signed wide receiver Marvin Jones Jr. last offseason because of his familiarity with former offensive coordinator and interim head coach Darrell Bevell. But there’s a new coaching staff in place and Bevell is now the Miami Dolphins quarterbacks coach.
Even though the Urban Meyer era was a disaster and the Jags’ offense was 32nd in points scored last season, Jones still managed to haul in 73 receptions for 832 yards with four touchdowns. That kind of production is noteworthy when you take into account that the veteran was the de facto number one receiver and opposing defenses often zeroed in on him.
New Jaguars head coach Doug Pederson could certainly use a player like Jones. After all, he’s still effective and could become more productive if the Jags re-sign DJ Chark Jr. and/or add another receiver this offseason. On the other hand, if the new regime wants to get younger at wide receiver or doesn’t see Jones as a fit, his release would have a dead cap hit of $5.21 million but would also free up $3.5 million in cap space.
That’s a lot of dead money but $3.5 million could prove to be useful if the Jaguars want to go into a shopping spree in free agency. They would need to be in a cap crunch for this scenario to come into fruition but it shouldn’t be ruled out either.
No. 3 player the Jaguars can release in 2022 – Brandon Linder, C.
This one may be the most controversial decision on the list and there are arguments to be made for and against releasing (or trading) center Brandon Linder. The downside of trading the veteran and five-time captain is that you can’t simply move on from players who are set to have a big cap hit. The Jags have tried that approach in the past, and it didn’t work out well for them.
Similarly, replacing Linder’s leadership wouldn’t be easy. You can’t simply appoint a leader by pulling names from a hat and call it a day. Jacksonville is in need of as many veteran voices as possible in Year 1 of Doug Pederson’s tenure in Jacksonville and Linder would be invaluable. Another reason not to cut ties with Linder is that he’s a pretty good football player. Although he doesn’t have any Pro Bowls or All-Pro selection to his name, he’s one of the best centers in the league and a key cog in the Jaguars’ offensive line.
Having said that, Linder has sat 22 games over the last four seasons and backup interior lineman Tyler Shatley has been serviceable when he has had to step in at center. Linder is the better of the two, by a wide margin, but the Jaguars may not be inclined to pay him a $10 million salary in 2022, especially when they would free up that amount of cap room with no dead cap hit if they release him.
Shatley is slated to become a free agent but the front office could re-sign him on the cheap. He could take over at center for the fraction of what Linder is set to make in 2022.
No. 4 player the Jaguars can release in 2022 – Myles Jack, LB.
Not long ago, Jeremy Fowler of ESPN wrote that the Jaguars could either release or trade linebacker Myles Jack. Fowler notes that the UCLA product is set to have a $10.5 million salary this year, which may attract the attention of potential trade partners.
Keep in mind that this wasn’t a report and Fowler was just exploring some potential trade ideas. Still, teams could be inclined to give the Jaguars a call this offseason and see if Jack is available. Jacksonville could get a third-round pick, maybe a second in exchange for the linebacker. If the Jags’ front office doesn’t get an offer of its liking, they could simply release him, which would free up $8.3 million in cap space with a dead cap hit of $4.8.
A second-round pick by the Jaguars in 2016, Jack has been pretty productive during his six-year stint in Jacksonville. But he had a relatively down year in 2020 and it’s uncertain if will fit defensive coordinator Mike Caldwell’s scheme. On the other hand, most Jaguars saw their production take a hit under former head coach Urban Meyer, so there’s a chance Jack could rebound in 2022.
Just like Brandon Linder, Jack has been a mainstay of the Jaguars for a while and his leadership would come in handy in 2022 but it will be up to the new coaching staff to decide if he will be part of the team’s long-term future.