5 notable Jaguars who won’t probably be back next season

No. 3 Jaguars player who might not return next season: Rayshawn Jenkins, S

Even though the Jaguars’ lacked playmakers last year, the roster wasn’t completely devoid of talent. Having said that, many players underachieved under Urban Meyer’s demoralizing regime. Think about it, you know you are good but if someone tells you every day you come into work that you won’t be able to get a job that pays more than $15 an hour, it’s going to eventually take a toll on your mental health.

That’s what happened to the Jaguars last year under Meyer. Contrary to what the “head coach” told the media, it wasn’t the losing that got him fired but rather all the mental abuse he laid on his team. One player of several players who has performed considerably better now that Doug Pederson is at the helm is safety Rayshawn Jenkins.

Last season, Jenkins didn’t register a single big play and even got ejected in Week 11 after punching San Francisco 49ers wide receiver Jauan Jennings. In his own words, he was just working just to work. This season, he’s already snagged an interception and has logged five passes defensed (two more than last season).

Jenkins signed a four-year deal worth $35 million last offseason, so he would have two years left on his contract after 2022. However, he’s also slated to count $10.25 million against the cap, and releasing him would add $4 million in dead money to the books. But it would also create $6.25 million in cap space.

Gus Logue of Big Cat Country recently took an excellent in-depth look at Jenkin’s tape and talked about the things (good and bad) that he brings to the table. Just like this writer, Logue thinks the veteran safety could be a cap casualty next year.