The Jacksonville Jaguars have put together a roster filled with depth and talent. That's great for their odds of defending their AFC South title and making a playoff push in 2026. On the other hand, it potentially creates an unexpected problem.
The Jags may need to cut ties with players they'd otherwise like to keep, not because they're bad, but because they simply won't have room for them. Specifically, defensive tackle Matt Dickerson could be the victim of the numbers game.
Why the Jaguars may need to cut Matt Dickerson
The Miami Dolphins released Matt Dickerson just before the start of the 2025 season. The Jaguars signed him to their practice squad. He proved to be a valuable depth piece, appearing in eight games with four starts. The former UCLA Bruin didn't put up jaw-dropping numbers but still came through, especially late in the year when fellow defensive tackle Arik Armstead suffered a hand injury that hindered his production.
Not surprisingly, the Jags signed Dickerson to a new-year deal early in 2026. However, he may have trouble making the team. John Shipley of Sports Illustrated left him out of his 53-man roster projection, arguing that he would rather keep a sixth cornerback than the grizzled veteran. That extra spot could come in handy to keep either Jabbar Muhammad or Christian Braswell.
Michael DiRocco of ESPN echoed the sentiment in his own projection, leaving Dickerson out of his projection. In his defense, he says the eight-year defensive tackle could make the cut if Jacksonville keeps only five cornerbacks.
Whether Dickerson gets a roster spot remains to be seen, but the reasoning makes sense. The Jags could play pass rusher Travon Walker or rookie Wesley Williams at defensive tackle in certain packages to keep their interior defensive line rotation fresh.
The Jaguars could still find a way to keep Matt Dickerson
Defensive tackle is arguably the team's biggest question mark ahead of training camp. Even if Arik Armstead bounces back and Ruke Orhorhoro breaks out, the position probably won't be a strength. On paper, that would make it odd to cut Matt Dickerson, but it makes sense when you take into account that Jacksonville could devote his roster spot to another promising player.
Dickerson already reached his ceiling as a veteran and won't get better anytime soon. Meanwhile, sophomore cornerback Jabbar Muhammad or rookie running back J'Mari Taylor have plenty of upside, and it would be interesting to see what they can do if pressed into action.
By keeping Dickerson off the roster, the Jaguars could potentially keep a potential contributor while also planning for the future. Moreover, they don't have to completely cut ties with him. They can release him and sign him to the practice squad. There, he can be elevated if needed. The downside is that other teams could potentially poach him. Then again, Jacksonville wouldn't mind seeing him get an opportunity to have a bigger role somewhere else.
The truth is that Matt Dickerson isn't the kind of player who will wreak havoc at the line of scrimmage, but he filled a rotational role when the Jaguars needed him last year. They could still use him next season but may ultimately need to release him to make room for someone else.
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