The NFL is tough. At any point, an ascending player could sign a massive extension and have trouble finding work just a few years later. For every K'Lavon Chaisson out there who's enjoying a career renaissance, there are other players who struggle to garner interest. The Jacksonville Jaguars have had their fair share of these kind of players.
The Jags had 13 players scheduled to become free agents in 2026. Most of them have either returned to Jacksonville or bolted for other teams, but some of them remain unsigned. They could eventually join a team in the offseason, but there's a chance a few won't.
Heck, these five former Jaguars find themselves in the same situation after the first wave of free agency.
Former Jaguars player who cannot find a job: DeAntre Prince, CB
Nobody thought that the Jaguars drafted an All-Pro when they used a fifth-round pick on DeAntre Prince in 2024. That said, it's a bit surprising that he failed to appear in a regular-season game in 2025. Similarly, no team has kicked the tires on him since the Jags waived him last year.
Granted, Prince was nothing more than a depth piece in Jacksonville. Nevertheless, you would think that someone would give him a tryout. So far, that hasn't been the case, which might be a sign that former general manager Trent Baalke dropped the ball.
Former Jaguars player who cannot find a job: DJ Chark, Jr., WR
Back in 2019, DJ Chark looked like an ascending star, hauling in 73 catches for 1,008 yards with five touchdowns. However, injuries slowed him down each of the next two years. Doug Pederson then took over in 2022, and Chark was shown the door. While the former LSU Tiger managed to land with the Detroit Lions not long after, he was gone after just one season.
Since then, Chark went on to have unremarkable stints with the Carolina Panthers and the Los Angeles Chargers. He briefly spent time with the Atlanta Falcons in 2025 but didn't make their 53-man roster. By now, it's fair to say that his odds of finding a job aren't great.
Former Jaguars player who cannot find a job: Tre Herndon, CB
Say what you want about former general manager Dave Caldwell, but he had an eye for undrafted talent, signing the likes of Jaron Wilson, Andrew Wingard, and cornerback Tre Herndon.
All three played significant roles for Jacksonville at some point or another, but let's focus on Herndon. The Vanderbilt product worked his way up the depth chart after signing with the Jags as an undrafted free agent in 2018.
By 2020, Herndon had joined the starting lineup. Urban Meyer became the head coach the following year, and he was expected to be the primary nickel. However, a knee injury kept him out for a good chunk of 2021. And when he was back in the fold, he was an afterthought on defense.
Nevertheless, the team's brass re-signed Herndon in 2022, and he once again got extended playing time. In 2023, the Detroit, Michigan native signed another one-year deal to man the slot but was supplanted by then-rookie Antonio Johnson midseason.
Herndon has since tried to latch onto the New York Giants, the Indianapolis Colts, and the New Orleans Saints, but has struggled to hit his stride. He last suited up for a regular-season game in 2024.
Former Jaguars player who cannot find a job: Taven, Bryan, DT
The Jaguars raised eyebrows in 2018 when they drafted Taven Bryan because their defensive front was stacked with talent, and Lamar Jackson was still on the board. Then again, that wouldn't have mattered if the former Florida Gator had turned into a force to be reckoned with. That wasn't the case.
Instead, Bryan struggled to make an impact during his stint with the Jags. To nobody's surprise, he was shown the door in 2022. He played for the Cleveland Browns and the Indianapolis Colts but was not much more than a rotational piece in both spots.
Bryan played for the Baltimore Ravens last year, but since becoming a free agent, he hasn't generated much demand.
Former Jaguars player who cannot find a job: Jawaan Taylor, OT
Throughout most of his tenure with the Jaguars, Jawaan Taylor underachieved. Then in 2022, he put it all together. That helped land a four-year deal worth $80 milion with the Kansas City Chiefs in 2023. However, he quickly showed why Jacksonville let him walk.
Taylor got flagged at a concerning rate during his stint with the Chiefs. After three years, Kansas City had had enough and let him walk. The former Florida Gator remains available and could soon find a new home, but don't expect him to cash in big like he did in 2023. Heck, he may need to compete for a job in the offseason.