Not many things have gone the way the Jacksonville Jaguars would have hoped over the last few years but at least they have done a good job of managing the salary cap. This is in part due to the fact that they haven’t been able to develop and sign many of their own players to second contracts, leaving them with plenty of unused money sitting around. Similarly, they weren’t overly aggressive in free agency until this offseason, when they made several splash signings.
In spite of all the additions the Jags made in free agency, they currently have $7.4 million in cap room, per Over the Cap. Next year will be a whole different deal though, as they’re set to be $18 million in the red.
Fortunately, getting under the cap shouldn’t be an issue if Jacksonville restructures a few contracts. On the other hand, they want to enter the 2023 offseason with some breathing room and enough money to make a few moves, they could move one from a few players. With that in mind, here are five Jaguars that could become salary cap casualties next year.
No. 5 Jaguars potential salary-cap causality: Shaquille Quarterman, LB
Dead cap figure – $123,600
Potential cap savings – $1.01 million
At first sight, it might not make sense to cut ties with Shaquille Quarterman next year but the truth is that the Jags are stacked at linebacker and he might not see the field much in the upcoming season. Why should Jacksonville keep a player whose value is mostly on special teams when they may be able to find a cheaper alternative in the draft?
A fourth-round pick in 2020, Quarterman didn’t play a single defensive snap in his rookie campaign and appeared in 12 percent of the team’s total defensive snaps last season. Even if it’s only a bit more than $1 million, any amount the front office can free up would be welcomed.
No. 4 Jaguars potential salary-cap causality: Roy Robertson-Harris, DL
Dead cap figure – $2.3 million
Potential cap savings – $7.8 million
After hardly signing any players in 2020, the Jaguars took a different approach last year and added several free agents. While they didn’t target any of the top players available, they did hand out a few big contracts, especially on the defensive side of the ball.
Cornerback Shaquill Griffin got the biggest contract of all the free agents the Jaguars signed, followed by safety Rayshawn Jenkins and defensive lineman Roy Robertson-Harris. All of them ended up getting featured roles in 2021 and started a combined 41 games. In particular, Robertson-Harris made 13 starts and played 60 percent of the team’s defensive snaps, which set a career-high. He finished the season with 37 total tackles, four tackles for a loss, and three sacks.
Although Robertson-Harris posted a subpar Pro Football Focus run defense grade of 42.1, he got a 68.0 pass-rushing mark and logged 35 total pressures. He should see an uptick in production in his second year in Jacksonville under defensive coordinator Mike Caldwell. Nevertheless, he’s slated to count $10 million over the cap in 2023, and releasing him would free up $7.8 million in cap room with a manageable $2.3 million in dead money.
The Jaguars have allocated plenty of money to their defensive front these past two years, giving defensive tackle Folorunso Fatukasi a three-year deal worth $30 million in free agency. Ultimately, Jacksonville might not be able to afford both Robertson-Harris and Fatukasi, which makes the former a prime candidate to get his walking papers in 2023.
No. 3 Jaguars potential salary-cap causality: Rayshawn Jenkins, S
Dead cap figure – $4 million
Potential cap savings – $6.25 million
Safety Rayshawn Jenkins was one of the many players the Jaguars’ brass signed last offseason. A fourth-round pick by the Los Angeles Chargers in the 2017 draft, the former Miami Hurricane looked like a low-key solid addition to Jacksonville’s secondary.
Jenkins was mostly relegated to special teams in his first two NFL seasons but joined the Chargers’ defensive lineup in 2019 and never looked back. He made 29 starts in a span of two years and logged five interceptions and eight passes defensed. His production earned him a four-year, $35 million deal from the Jags, which seems like a fair amount at the time. And while it’s true that players are worth whatever clubs are willing to pay them, you could make the case that the safety’s performance wasn’t proportional to his salary in 2021.
Named a team captain by his teammates before the start of the season, Jenkins started 14 games but missed the last three with an ankle fracture. He didn’t force any turnovers and wasn’t particularly great, posting a 56.9 Pro Football Focus grade and getting disqualified in Week 11 for throwing a punch at San Francisco 49ers wide receiver Jauan Jennings.
Jenkins needs to bounce back in 2022 or else run the risk of being shown the door next offseason, when he’s set to count $10.25 million against the cap. Releasing him would create $4 million in dead money but would also free up $6.25 million in cap space.
No. 2 Jaguars potential salary-cap causality: Jamal Agnew, returner, WR
Dead cap figure – $1.16 million
Potential cap savings – $4.75 million
Just like Roy Robertson-Harris, return specialist Jamal Agnew got a three-year deal from the Jaguars last year and based on his contributions early in the 2021 season, it looked like they got plenty of bang for their buck. A fifth-round pick by the Detroit Lions in the 2017 draft, he gave Jacksonville’s return game a significant boost, scoring two touchdowns in back-to-back weeks.
Agnew’s first trip to the end zone came in a kick return against the Denver Broncos in Week 2 and against the Arizona Cardinals the following week, he took back a failed field goal all the way to the house. The San Diego product showed he could also contribute on offense, catching 24 receptions for 229 yards and scoring on a 66-yard run. Alas, a hip injury cut his season short.
Even though the Jaguars’ coaching staff is letting several players handle return duties in Organized Team Activities, there’s no doubt Agnew is their best option once he’s healthy. As head coach Doug Pederson said, Jacksonville wants to have alternatives, which is what any other club would do.
Having said that, Agnew won’t see as much playing time on offense this upcoming offseason, due to the addition of wide receivers Christian Kirk and Zay Jones. And if he underperforms on special teams, it will be hard to justify his $5.9 million salary next offseason. He was one of the few bright spots the Jaguars had last season but he could become a cap casualty if he doesn’t make an impact in 2022.
No. 1 Jaguars potential salary-cap causality: Shaquill Griffin, CB
Dead cap figure – $4 million
Potential cap savings – $13.5 million
Here’s another player from the Jaguars’ 2021 free-agent class. Cornerback Shaquill Griffin quickly became a locker room leader and had a significant impact on and off the field. Although the former UCF Knight finished the year without an interception, he was often tasked with covering the opponent’s top receiver and did a good job for the most part.
In the midst of a taxing season, Griffin didn’t shy away from talking to the media and did a good job of holding himself and his teammates accountable. He acknowledged earlier this year that he needs to work on coming down with more interceptions in 2023, something he should be able to achieve under defensive coordinator Mike Caldwell.
Despite the fact that fellow cornerback Tyson Campbell led the Jags with two interceptions last season and might have not reached his ceiling yet, Griffin will most likely be named captain for the second consecutive year. However, if Jacksonville faces a serious cap crunch next offseason, the veteran could become a casualty. Releasing him would create $13 million in cap space with a dead cap hit of $4 million.
The fact that cornerback is one of the Jaguars’ deepest position groups won’t make things any easier. Sure, rookies Montaric Brown and Gregory Junior won’t unseat Griffin but the Jaguars gave Darious Williams a three-year contract worth $30 million this offseason and also have Campbell on the roster. Moving on from Griffin wouldn’t be a popular move but it may be necessary if the top brass is in need of some breathing room. Then again, the Jags could also restructure Griffin’s contract or work out an extension next year to lessen his cap hit.