4 Jaguars most likely to have their contracts restructured this offseason

1. Zay Jones, wide receiver

Like many players on this list, wide receiver Zay Jones was a member of the 2022 Jaguars free agent class that played a huge role in their recent turnaround. A second-round pick in 2016, Jones had shown previously in his career that he could make plays but wasn't able to do it on a consistent basis. It wasn't until he joined the Jaguars that he put it all together, setting new career bests for catches and receiving yards in his first season in Jacksonville.

Unfortunately, Jones wasn't able to build on his successful 2022 campaign, with injuries being the main culprit. Specifically, a PCL injury forced him to sit out eight games and he wasn't himself when he was on the field, registering 34 receptions for 321 yards with two touchdowns. Now, the veteran wideout is set to enter the last year of the three-year pact worth $24 million he signed in 2022. He's slated to have a cap hit of $10.7 million but the Jaguars can recoup $4.1 million in space with $6.5 million in dead money if they release him.

While the prospect of moving on from him may be tempting, releasing Jones would create a void at receiver. As it is, the Jaguars must choose what to do with Calvin Ridley. If he and Jones leave in free agency, that would create a need on top of the ones they already have, so they will probably keep one of the two. In Jones' case, he will probably be incentivized to bounce back from an underwhelming season in order to increase his stock for 2025.

At this point, it would make sense to give Jones an extension but restructuring his contract would most definitely benefit him and the Jaguars. By remaining in a familiar place, he won't have to start over, so his chances of getting back on track will go up. Meanwhile, the Jaguars will be able to focus on filling other roster holes in the offseason.

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