5 potential cap casualties the Jacksonville Jaguars could sign in 2022

No. 4 cap casualty the Jaguars should sign in 2022 – Eric Kendricks, LB.

Erik Kendricks has been one of the top linebackers in the NFL since the Minnesota Vikings made him a second-round pick in the 2015 draft. Since then, he’s been one of the league’s top leaders in tackles and has earned a Pro Bowl selection and a First-Team All-Pro. Known for his ability to blitz and drop in coverage, the former UCLA Bruin has been a key cog on the Vikes’ defense over the last few years but his run in Minneapolis may come to an end this offseason.

See, the Vikings are currently $14 over the cap and may need to make restructure several contracts and release a few players just to get out of the red. One potential cap casualty could be Kendricks, who is set to have a cap hit of $13.5 million in 2022 but releasing him would free up $7.5 million in cap space and $5.96 million in dead money. Keep in mind that Minnesota has a new general manager in Kwesi Adofo-Mensah and there’s a new coaching staff in place, one that has no attachment to the linebacker, so he could be a prime candidate to be released this offseason.

Now, pursuing Kendricks would only make sense for the Jaguars if they don’t re-sign Damien Wilson, who is set to hit the open market. The fact that former Vikings general manager Rick Spielman — the man that drafted Kendricks — may join the Jags’ front office could increase the chances of the linebacker landing in Jacksonville.