Even after a miraculous season, the Jacksonville Jaguars will have to make some tough decisions.
The Jags have torn through the back half of their schedule, quickly becoming one of the most dangerous teams in the NFL as the playoffs draw near. They're clicking on both sides of the ball as head coach Liam Coen finds value in players once considered disappointments.
But it won't be all sunshine and rainbows in the offseason. General manager James Gladstone will have some tough choices to make, including what to do with veteran defensive tackle Arik Armstead. While the defender has become a fan favorite in Jacksonville, it might be time to let him go.
Jaguars are facing an impossible Arik Armstead decision this offseason
After a long career with the San Francisco 49ers, Armstead was released, quickly finding a new home with the Jaguars. Over the last two seasons in Jacksonville, he's become an important piece on the defensive line. He entered this season as a full-time starter, playing the vast majority of the team's defensive snaps. Through the first half of the season, he was playing at a high level, tallying six sacks in the team's first ten games.
However, his playing time has decreased late in the season. Armstead suffered a hand injury in the middle of the year that kept him sidelined for one game, and he hasn't quite been the same since. His production has dipped.
Armstead is missing tackles at a concerning rate and struggling to make his way into the backfield as a pass rusher. Then again, the former Oregon Duckis the team's best defensive tackle, and releasing him would leave a massive void in the trenches.
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Releasing Arik Armstead would give the Jaguars much needed cap space
There's still one season left on the three-year, $43.5 million deal that Armstead signed with the Jags back in 2024. But it might make sense to release him after this season. The veteran is set to carry a cap hit of $19.4 million next season, a difficult number to stomach for a depth player.
Designating him as a post-June 1st release would save Jacksonville $14.5 million in 2026 salary cap room. This inflow of cash could come in handy when you take into account that the team will be dealing with a cap crunch in the offseason.
This ultimately won't be an easy decision. Arik Armstead still provides value to this team, both on the field and in the locker room. But at the end of the day, the Jaguars will have to make the move that is best for them moving forward. The money they can save from moving on from the veteran defensive tackle might prove more important than the impact he can make for them next year.