Since the Jacksonville Jaguars hired James Gladstone as the general manager, they've done a good job of re-signing their homegrown talent. Just recently, they rewarded long-snapper Ross Matiscik with a two-year extension. Before him, defensive tackle Travon Walker got a four-year deal worth $110 million. That said, the Jags still have their work cut out for them.
Several players are entering contract years, and Jacksonville won't be able to re-sign all of them. That means that a few of them will become free agents in 2027.
With this in mind, here are five Jaguars prominent players who could walk next season.
Ventrell Miller, Jaguars linebacker
The Jaguars let Devin Lloyd walk in free agency because they're confident Ventrell Miller can fill his shoes. Miller has previously flashed, so it's not far-fetched to think that he'll be up to the task.
The issue is that sophomore Brandon Combs has turned heads in training camp, so even if he doesn't win one of the starting jobs at linebacker, he could be Miller's heir apparent in 2027.
Antonio Johnson, Jaguars safety
Antonio Johnson flashed as a rookie but was benched in 2024. He proved last year that his struggles the season prior were an outlier, as he registered a career-best five interceptions and nine passes defensed. The former Texas A&M Aggie should be even better in 2026, as he'll have the same coordinator for the second year in a row for the first time in his career.
Nobody would bat an eye if Johnson posts an All-Pro season, which will only make his market value demands increase. While it would make sense to re-sign him, the Jags may choose to let him walk and roll with sophomore Caleb Ransaw and rookie Jalen Huskey.
Ezra Cleveland, Jaguars guard
The Jaguars traded for Ezra Cleveland in 2023 because they needed help at guard. However, injuries prevented him from making an impact. Nevertheless, he got a three-year extension the following offseason. A new regime took over in 2025, and the former Boise State Bronco had his best season in Jacksonville.
While Cleveland is seemingly in no danger of losing his job, rookie Emmanuel Pregnon and Wyatt Milum could replace him if/when he leaves next year.
Arik Armstead, Jaguars defensive tackle
Of all the players on this list, Arik Armstead is the most likely to leave Jacksonville next year. Throughout the offseason, the former Oregon Duck was dubbed a cut candidate, but it looks like the Jags will ultimately keep him around in 2026. This makes sense when you take into account that he was their best defensive tackle last year.
Sure, Armstead slowed down as 2025 progressed, but even if he's unable to bounce back, having him around adds depth at defensive tackle. Moreover, the 2015 first-round pick should be incentivized to rebuild his stock, as he'll garner more interest if he hits the open market.
DaVon Hamilton, Jaguars defensive tackle
Like Arik Armstead, DaVon Hamilton is entering a contract season. He's been a pivotal piece on the defensive line since Jacksonville drafted him in 2020, especially against the run. However, he doesn't offer much in the pass rush department, so if the Jags want to improve in that area, they may look for alternatives next offseason.
There's still a chance Ham will be back in 2027, but he probably won't get a $34.5 million deal, like he did in 2023.
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