3 Jaguars players who could be spared after the NFL salary cap spike

2. Zay Jones, wide receiver

Calvin Ridley could hit the open market but he isn't the only wideout that the Jaguars may let walk this offseason. Zay Jones, albeit for different reasons, could find himself on his way out. Whereas Ridley is scheduled to become a free agent, Jones could be a cap casualty.

Having spent time with the Buffalo Bills and the Las Vegas Raiders, Jones signed a three-year, $24 million deal with the Jaguars in 2022. His signing raised eyebrows around the league, as he had never logged more than 600 yards in a season throughout his NFL career. However, the East Carolina Pirate quickly proved the Jags made the right decision, setting new career highs for both receptions and receiving yards.

Unfortunately, Jones wasn't able to build on his success and struggled last year due to a PCL injury. He ended up missing eight games and he wasn't himself when he was on the field. This, along with the fact that the Jaguars could create space if they released him, made Jones a prime candidate to get released. That said, he also had a strong case to return in 2024.

The Texas native should return to full strength in 2024. Similarly, the Jags weren't nearly as productive when he missed time, so having him back should give the offense a boost. Furthermore, the Jags won't have gained much cap relief if they move on from him.

He's set to count $10.7 million against the cap and releasing him would free up a modest $4.1 million in space. That amount, while not much, would've come in handy if the cap had remained $242 million. With the spike, his chances of sticking around for yet another season have gone up.