4 Jacksonville Jaguars cut candidates after releasing Folorunso Fatukasi
• If the Jaguars want to keep creating cap space after cutting Foley Fatukasi, they should then move on from the following 4 players.
The Jacksonville Jaguars are making moves to create space ahead of free agency. They started by releasing defensive tackle Folorunso Fatukasi, which frees up around $3.5 million in space. That's just the beginning though.
The Jags had around $24 million space before releasing Fatukasi and they'll need to keep making moves if they want to retain outside linebacker Josh Allen and wide receiver Calvin Ridley. While the team's brass could restructure a few contracts, they'll also need to release other players to get a bit of breathing room in free agency.
So which Jaguars players could be cap casualties before free agency begins? Here are four candidates to walk the plank.
4. Brandon Scherff, right guard
Salary for 2024: $24.9 M
Potential cap savings: $9.09 M
Dead money: $14.8 M
Even if the Jags don't pursue Kevin Dotson, one of the top guards in free agency, they should strongly consider moving on from veteran Brandon Scherff. While he's been serviceable since signing a three-year contract worth $49 million in 2022, the Jags paid him to perform at a Pro Bowl level. So far, they haven't gotten a good return on their investment.
Scherff has made 34 consecutive starts, something noteworthy when you take into account that he hadn't played a full season since 2016. That said, releasing him would allow the Jags to allocate the savings to other position groups. To replace him, they could either sign a less costly player in free agency or target a guard in Rounds 2 or 3 of the draft.
Make no mistake, moving on from Scherff would create a void at right guard, but it would be one Jacksonville could easily fill while getting a bit of cap relief.