Even though defensive tackle was a pressing need for the Jacksonville Jaguars in the 2026 NFL Draft, they wanted until Round 3 to address it when they took Albert Regis at No. 81. In their defense, this wasn't a great year to bolster the interior defensive trenches, but it's easy to see why the team's brass opted to add reinforcements at tight end in Round 2 instead.
Anyway, Jacksonville now has two new defensive tackles in Regis and the recently traded Ruke Orhorhoro. This has led to questions about the status of veteran Arik Armstead, who's been dubbed a cut candidate dating back to the end of 2025. A local voice believes he could be on his way out.
Releasing Arik Armstead would help the Jaguars pay Brenton Strange and Parker Washington
Ryan O'Halloran of The Florida Times-Union drew up a list of 15 offseason questions for the Jaguars. He wonders whether they should cut ties with Arik Armstead after drafting Albert Regis, arguing that the savings could help pay tight end Brenton Strange and wide receiver Parker Washington. Here's the skinny.
"The Jaguars drafted Regis at No. 81 (third round), their first defensive selection," O'Halloran wrote. "Armstead's salary cap number is $19.39 million, up from $4.5 million and $7.4 million in his first two Jaguars seasons."
O'Halloran continued, "The discussions about Armstead's future are centered on June 1. If the Jaguars cut him, they will create $14.9 million in salary cap space, money that could be allocated toward extensions for Strange and Washington."
Armstead originally joined the Jags on a $43.5 million contract in 2024. The expectation was that he was going to fix the roster void at defensive tackle. But shockingly, the former Oregon Duck switched to defensive end in his first season in Duval. To nobody's surprise, he left much to be desired, registering a measly 2.5.
After an unremarkable 2024, Armstead moved back to his more familiar spot at defensive tackle last year. He got off to a hot start but faded down the stretch, failing to register a sack in the last seven games. That, along with his cap hit, has made him the subject of speculation. However, Mia O'Brien of ESPN Radio reported that Jacksonville is planning to hold onto the 2015 first-round pick. Then again, that was before Albert Regis and Ruke Orhorhoro were added to the mix.
Plans change all the time, and if the Jaguars chose to move on from Armstead, they could pay Strange and Washington, as O'Halloran suggests. On the other hand, keeping him around would give them a well-rounded group at defensive tackle.
It would probably come down to whether Jacksonville would be willing to take on Armstead's salary for 2026.
The Jaguars have options when it comes to Arik Armstead
The Jaguars showed that they're not afraid to cut underwhelming veterans when they released wide receiver Gabe Davis after the 2025 draft. And unlike Davis, they wouldn't take on as much dead cap and would instead free up a substantial amount of cap space.
If Armstead gets a post-June 1 designation, Jacksonville would create $14.4 million in space with dead cap hits of $4.9 million and $12.2 million in 2026 and 2027, respectively. One realistic scenario would be to see how Albert Regis and Ruke Orhorhoro fare in the offseason program. And if they show enough progress, perhaps the team's brass can cut Armstead.
It's also worth noting that, like Armstead, veteran DaVon Hamilton is entering a contract year, so the defensive tackle position could look very different in 2027.
The good news is that the Jaguars have flexibility with Arik Armstead, so there's a realistic scenario in which he'll stick around. Conversely, nobody will bat an eye if he leaves.
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