4 notable Jacksonville Jaguars who are entering contract years in 2022

The Jacksonville Jaguars haven’t had much success on the football field over the last four years but if there’s a silver lining, it’s that they have done a good job managing their salary cap. Sure, they would surely love to have racked up more wins in that span than saving money but at least they weren’t in a cap crunch and that should account for something.

Moreover, all those years of being careful with the salary cap finally paid off this offseason, as the Jags went on to make several splash signings in free agency. Once Jacksonville used the available balance, general manager Trent Baalke said that the organization can’t go into a shopping spree every year. Nevertheless, the Jaguars need to decide if they will re-sign these four players that are set to become free agents in 2023.

No. 4 Jaguars player entering a contract year in 2022 – Dawuane Smoot, DE

Defensive end Dawuane Smoot is the last standing member of the 2017 Sacksonville defense and one of few players that have been with the Jaguars since 2017. Although he was a role player early in his NFL career, he’s steadily got a more prominent role in Jacksonville’s defensive front. He made his first start in 2020 and went on to make six more and log 5.5 sacks that year. The team recognized his value and gave him a two-year deal last offseason.

Smoot has a cap number of $6.71 million in 2022 and there doesn’t seem a reason why he shouldn’t play it out. But next year will be a whole different deal. Due to the arrival of edge rusher Travon Walker and defensive end Arden Key, Smoot will most likely have a diminished role this upcoming season. Depending on how effective he is, he may or may not be back in 2023.