5 Jacksonville Jaguars who won't be spared even after 2026 salary cap hike

The Jacksonville Jaguars must've jumped for joy when the NFL announced that the salary cap for 2026 will be $20 million higher than originally expected. Even though that won't fully help their cap issues (they're $13.9 million in the red even after the increase), it will most definitely help.

The Jags will still need to restructure a few deals and possibly make a few roster cuts to get under the cap and have money to spend in free agency. Precisely for that reason, the following five players could be released in the offseason.

Yasir Abdullah, Jaguars linebacker

One Jaguars cap casualty that isn't discussed nearly enough is Yasir Abdullah. A fifth-round pick in 2023, the former Louisiana Cardinal hasn't done much of note during his stint in Jacksonville, appearing in just 29 games with three starts the past three years.

Abdullah was seen as a potential draft steal coming out of college because of his pass-rush potential. However, it hasn't translated into production thus far, and he's instead been relegated to a backup role. Maybe the Jags could keep the Miami, Florida native around for another season, but even if Devin Lloyd leaves in free agency, it's hard to see him get meaningful playing time in 2026.

Couple that with the fact that Jacksonville can free up $1.1 million in space with just a bit over $91,000 in dead money, and Abdullah should find himself on the hot seat.

Cooper Hodges, Jaguars offensive lineman

Another member of the Jaguars' 2023 draft class, Cooper Hodges flashed potential as a rookie before suffering a season-ending patella injury. He also missed the 2024 campaign with an injury in the same knee. Last year, the Appalachian State product was placed on the Injured Reserve and once again missed the whole season.

Make no mistake, Hodges has the talent to develop into a solid backup, maybe even a starter. The issue is that availability is the best ability in the NFL, and he hasn't had much the past three years. That could potentially make him expendable, especially if the team's brass adds a couple of linemen in the upcoming NFL Draft: Cutting him would free up $1.1 million in space with just $26,373 in dead money.

Austin Trammell, Jaguars receiver

Austin Trammell has been a valuable backup piece since he joined the Jaguars in the 2024 offseason. He's been on and off the practice squad and has routinely been thrust into action when injuries have struck the wide receiver corps.

The issue is that, as dependable as Trammell has been the past two seasons, it's hard to see him earning a roster spot on the initial 53-man roster even if Jacksonville doesn't make any substantial additions to the wide receiver corps this offseason.

Sure, Trammell offers value on special teams but lacks game-changing skills. Releasing him would save the Jags $1.1 million in space with just $10,000 in dead money, so expect them to get younger at the position.

Hunter Long, Jaguars tight end

The Jaguars cut ties with Evan Engram last year because Brenton Strange was ready to take on a bigger role. His release also helped them address the larger scale roster. On the other hand, the team's brass needed to add depth at tight end, so it signed Hunter Long and Johnny Mundt in free agency. The latter became a valuable backup, but the former left much to be desired.

While nobody projected Hunter to turn into an All-Pro tight end, probably nobody expected him to tumble down the depth chart last year. In his defense, he dealt with a myriad of ailments throughout the year. On the other hand, the former Boston College Eagle was a healthy scratch late in the season because fellow tight end Quintin Morris proved to be more valuable.

Long still has one year left on the deal he signed with the Jags last year, but releasing him would free up $1.38 million in space with $1.3 million in dead money. Given the team's cap situation, moving on from him may be the best course of action.

Chuma Edoga, Jaguars offensive lineman

Chuma Edoga may not be the Jaguars' biggest free-agent disappointment from 2025, but he's certainly up there. A third-round pick in 2019, the former USC Trojan has previously spent time with the Atlanta Falcons, the New York Jets, and the Dallas Cowboys. While he's been a solid backup at different points throughout his career, he's never shown that he can be anything more than a depth piece.

Still, Edoga showed promise in training camp and the preseason after signing with the Jags last year. Unfortunately, it didn't carry over into the regular season. When the Powder Springs, Georgia native was pressed into action, he struggled, drawing a concerning five penalties in just 101 offensive snaps.

After an underwhelming performance early in the season, Eduga didn't get much playing time the rest of the year. He's slated to count $3.8 million against the cap in 2026, but releasing him would save the Jaguars $2.8 million in space with $1.0 million in dead money, so nobody will bat an eye if he gets his walking papers.