The Jacksonville Jaguars made sure tight end Evan Engram didn't go anywhere when they gave him a three-year deal worth $44 million in the offseason. They also gave Roy Robertson-Harris and DaVon Hamilton long-term deals, so it's clear the Jags are doing what they can to retain their own players. Outside linebacker Josh Allen should be next on their list.
Allen is one of the top pass rushers in the league and one of the best defenders on the Jacksonville roster. Re-signing him should be among the team's top priorities but it won't be cheap. Rashan Gary and Montez Sweat just inked multi-year deals that will pay them an average of $24 million or more per year.
Moreover, Andre Cisco, Tyson Campbell, and Walker Little will enter contract years in 2024. It would be a good idea to start extending them as soon as possible. The issue is that the Jaguars won't have enough cap to bring everyone back. For this reason, there's a chance these three prominent players won't return in 2024.
No. 3 Jacksonville Jaguars player who won't likely in 2024: Jamal Agnew, RS
Jamal Agnew signed a three-year contract worth $14.25 million with the Jags in 2021 and has gone on to fill a pivotal role on special teams. He's also made plays on offense when given the chance and stepped up during Zay Jones' absence this season. However, the Jags could be in a cap crunch next offseason, and there are several players who could handle return duties if he left.
Granted, none of the players on the roster have the same impact in the return game as Agnew but there are a handful of receivers ready to have a bigger role on offense. There's no doubt Agnew can impact the game with a huge return but he might be a luxury the Jags may not be able to afford.
No. 2 Jacksonville Jaguars player who won't likely return in 2024: Cam Robinson
Left tackle Cam Robinson is one of the few players who have been with the Jaguars since before the current regime arrived. Although it looked like he was on his way out when his rookie deal expired, he got the franchise tag in 2021 and a long-term deal the following year.
Robinson, a second-round pick in the 2017 draft, isn't among the top left tackles in the league but his impact goes beyond the football field. He's become a veteran presence in the locker room and a leader on the offensive line.
That said, his future in Jacksonville is in question. Earlier this year, he was suspended for violations to the NFL's performance-enhancing drug policy and sat out the first four games of the season.
Robinson returned in Week 5 and got his job back even though Walker Little filled in for him nicely. However, the suspension voided the guarantees in his contract, so he could become a cap casualty next year. He's set to make $21.63 million but releasing him would create $17.5 million in space with $3.8 million in dead money.
An alternative would be to restructure Robinson's contract but the Jags currently have a logjam at left tackle and Walker Little will enter a contract year, so it's unlikely. Moreover, Little may have a high ceiling and is younger, so the Jags would probably roll with him if they had to choose between the two.
No. 1 Jacksonville Jaguars player who won't likely return in 2024: Calvin Ridley
The Jaguars pulled off one of the biggest moves at the trade deadline last year when they acquired Calvin Ridley from the Atlanta Falcons. Although Ridley was serving a suspension for betting on football games at the time, he had previously shown he could be a WR1, so it was a low-risk, high-reward decision.
Ridley was reinstated from the suspension in March and proved throughout the offseason that he had no rusty from his time away from football. Then, Week 1 came and he went on to haul in eight receptions for 101 yards with one touchdown. Throughout the game, he displayed the same skills that helped him tally 3,300+ receiving yards and 28 touchdowns in Atlanta.
Since the opener, Ridley has only had another 100-yard game but that's because other teams devote lots of resources to slowing him down. He's often double or even triple-covered, which affects his ability to make plays. On the bright side, the attention he gets has allowed tight end Evan Engram and wide receiver Christian Kirk to find lots of opportunities.
Ridley is on pace to reach close to 1,000 yards, so it's fair to say that the Jaguars are getting a solid return on their investment. However, they'll need to decide if they will 'the Alabama product back next year. They already gave Zay Jones and Christian Kirk top-market money. The team's brass would probably need to give Ridley a contract that pays him around $18 million to $20 million next year.
There's no doubt Ridley plays a huge role in how teams defend the Jaguars' offense but they'll need to decide if devoting so much cap space to the wide receiver corps is feasible.