The Jacksonville Jaguars entered the offseason with enough cap room to re-sign a handful of players and probably lock up a few in free agency. That said, they can free up extra space if they make a few cuts in the upcoming months. Nick of Over The Cap the Jags have four obvious candidates.
Over the Cap drew up a list of the top 100 release candidates in 2025, and four Jaguars made the cut: Wide receiver Christian Kirk, wide receiver Josh Reynolds, center Mitch Morse, and tight end Evan Engram. Surprisingly, cornerback Ronald Darby didn't make the cut.
The Jaguars have 2 prominent cut candidates in Christian Kirk and Evan Engram
Kirk's appearance on the list isn't particularly surprising. He joined the Jags in 2022 and set career highs for both yards, catches, and touchdowns that year. However, the former Texas A&M Aggie has suffered season-ending injuries in back-to-back years, and Jacksonville would free up $10 million if they release him or trade him. Engram's inclusion is also understandable.
The former Ole Miss Rebel is entering the last year of an extension he signed in 2023. He's been a mainstay of the offense the past three years, but the team can create $6 million in space if they move on from him. Add the fact that Brenton Strange has emerged as a legitimate starter at tight end, and Engram is a legitimate cut candidate. On the other hand, his salary for 2025 isn't particularly high, and having him around may be better than cutting him loose.
When it comes to Mitch Morse, it's hard to see Jacksonville pulling the trigger. He signed a two-year deal in 2024 and was a 17-game starter. He was an upgrade over Luke Forter, and it wouldn't make much sense to move on from him unless the team's brass found a replacement in the offseason. And even then, the Jags would be better off keeping Morse to ensure they have depth at center.
Last but not least is Josh Reynolds, a late-season addition to the Jaguars roster in 2024. He barely got playing time but could use the offseason to get acclimated. The Jags could keep him around and have him compete for a roster spot. If he doesn't make it, they could then release him and free up $4.2 million in space.
It's also worth pointing out that Ronald Darby got benched late in the season, and the Jags would create $2 million if they released him. You could make the case that he was an omission on Over the Cap's list.
Who could be a cut candidate for Jaguars aside from Christian Kirk?
Leaving aside the amount of cap space the Jaguars can create by releasing him, Christian Kirk is a cut candidate because fellow receiver Parker Washington proved last season that he's ready for a big role.
Heck, the Jags already tried to trade Kirk before the deadline in 2024. Having said that, the other candidates in Over The Cap's Top 100 list have a good chance of returning.
One thing working against Mitch Morse is his age. He'll be 33 in the opener, but his still dependable, so he would be a surprise cut. The same is true for Evan Engram, who's most definitely worth the $6 million he's set to count against the cap. That leaves Josh Reynolds as the only real candidate to get the boot aside from Kirk.
Reynolds will have the offseason to prove he deserves a roster spot, but if he comes up short, Jacksonville can release him without leaving dead money.
Ultimately, it will come down to how much the Jaguars' current regime values all the players who popped up on the list but don't expect many surprises in the offseason.