The Jacksonville Jaguars weren't thrilled about their depth at quarterback, so they acquired Quinn Ewers from the Miami Dolphins just one day before cutdown day. The deal gave them a potential QB2 behind Trevor Lawrence next season. It was also a sign that Nick Mullens was no longer part of the team's plans. And as expected, he's been given the boot.
Tom Pelissero of NFL Media reported that the Jags are releasing Mullens, adding that the veteran quarterback should have no trouble landing somewhere else, as there are several clubs in need of quarterback help. The Los Angeles Chargers could use better depth behind Justin Herbert, so they could be a potential landing spot. Trey Lance will tentatively be the backup.
Circling back to Mullens, the truth is that Jacksonville wasn't going to carry three quarterbacks on the active roster, and keeping him on the practice squad wouldn't have made sense.
Why did the Jaguars release Nick Mullens?
An undrafted free agent in 2018, Nick Mullens spent three seasons with the San Francisco 49ers. He then signed with the Cleveland Browns in 2021. After a one-year stint in Berea, the former Southern Miss Golden Eagle spent three seasons with the Minnesota Vikings, where current Jaguars offensive coordinator Grant Udinski was the assistant quarterbacks coach.
Mullens signed a two-year deal with the Jags in 2025 to serve as the primary backup behind Trevor Lawrence. He barely saw the field last year, though, suiting up for just five games and attempting three passes for 18 yards. Expected to be QB2 again next season, the Little Rock, Arkansas native was underwhelming in training camp and the preseason.
Nevertheless, Jacksonville gave Mullens a chance to compete and show he deserved the backup job. He came up short, and the team's brass acquired Quinn Ewers.
Mullens was set to count $2.5 million against the cap next season. By cutting ties with him, the Jags are creating $1.2 million in space with $1.3 million in dead money.
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What's next for Nick Mullens after the Jaguars released him?
Since Nick Mullens is a grizzled veteran with more than four accrued NFL seasons, he's not subject to the waiver wire. When the Jaguars released him, he immediately became a free agent, meaning that he can sign with a team as soon as he can (if there's interest).
It's worth noting that teams didn't attempt to make a trade for Mullens. That doesn't mean that he won't have any demand, but rather that clubs assumed he would be released after the Quinn Ewers trade and that he would be available once Jacksonville pulled the trigger.
By releasing Nick Mullens, the Jaguars are shaping their quarterback room. Trevor Lawrence remains the starter, and Quinn Ewers will tentatively be QB2 behind him. The one thing they still have to sort out is whether they'll keep Joey Aguilar or Carter Bradley (or both) on the practice squad.
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