The Jacksonville Jaguars are dealing with a cap crunch, so it wouldn't be shocking to make several moves just ahead of free agency to ensure they have enough space to maneuver. The team's brass could restructure a few deals but could also release a handful of players.
The issue with making roster cuts is that the Jags don't have any clear-cut cut candidates outside defensive tackle Arik Armstead. This is why it was a bit baffling to see an overlooked veteran be dubbed a potential cap casualty.
Pro Football Focus names Jaguars safety a potential cap casualty
Thomas Valentine of Pro Football Focus drew up a list of one cap casualty for each NFL team and picked Eric Murray for the Jaguars, noting that releasing him wouldn't save much space but would free up a roster spot. Here's the skinny.
"Like a few other teams across the NFL, the Jaguars don't have too many cut candidates on the roster," Valentine wrote. "One name that does creep up is veteran safety Eric Murray."
Valentine continued, "Murray played in 12 games for the Jaguars in his first season with the team after signing a three-year, $19.5 million contract last offseason, but the breakout of Antonio Johnson means Murray might not have as big a role in 2026 and 2027. If that's the case, moving on doesn't open up too much cap space — just $759k — but every little bit helps, and it would free up a roster spot for another position of need."
A third-round pick in 2016, Murray played with the Kansas City Chiefs, the Cleveland Browns, and the Houston Texans before signing a three-year deal worth $18 million with the Jags last offseason. Even though he didn't make many game-altering plays, the former Minnesota Golden Gopher brought much-needed stability to the Jacksonville defensive backfield.
If the Jaguars were to release Murray, it would leave their safety room without much depth. Andrew Wingard is scheduled to hit the open market, and it's hard to see him returning to the Duval, as he may want to have the chance to compete for the starting role.
For the sake of the argument, let's say the Jags move from both Dewey and Murray. They could create a need they don't currently have. Sure, Rayuan Lane and Caleb Ransaw are in the mix as well, but the former may be better for the backup role, while the latter is an unproven commodity after missing his rookie campaign with a leg injury.
Couple that with the fact that cutting Murray would barely free up any space, and it's hard to see the team's brass giving him his walking papers in the foreseeable future.
Why the Jaguars will stick with Eric Murray for at least another season
Caleb Ransaw was expected to compete for a starting role before the leg injury brought his rookie campaign to an end. Had he stayed healthy, there's a chance that Andrew Wingard may have taken on a backup role.
Fast forward to 2026, and Ransaw should have no trouble picking up where he left off. That said, Jacksonville may still want to have insurance in case the former Tulane Green Wave fails to come through. That's where holding onto Eric Murray comes in handy.
Last year, Murray missed five games with different injuries. But that wasn't an issue because Wingard and Antonio Johnson were around. If Wingard leaves, Ransaw would be the first in line to replace him, but Jacksonville would need to add reinforcements at safety if Murray were shown the door.
Sure, the team's brass could target a young safety on Day 2 of the draft to replace Murray, but given that defensive tackle, the pass rush, and cornerback are bigger needs, it may not make much sense.
You can never say never, but the truth is that the Jaguars are better off keeping Eric Murray than cutting ties with him, which is why it's nearly a certainty that he'll be wearing the Black & Teal next season.