The Jacksonville Jaguars have done a good job of keeping their core together. This year alone, they gave outside linebacker Josh Allen a monster extension, and it may not be long before they also sign star quarterback Trevor Lawrence to a top-market deal.
Granted, the front office hasn't been able to keep everyone but tough decisions have to be made every offseason. Next year won't be any different, and there's a chance these four prominent players won't return.
Brandon Scherff may not return to the Jaguars in 2025
The Jags signed right guard Brandon Scherff in 2022 to stabilize the interior offensive line. A first-round pick in 2015, Scherff made five Pro Bowls as a member of the Washington Commanders. After signing a three-year deal worth $49 million, the expectation was that he would play at a high level in Jacksonville but the results have been mixed.
While Scherff has managed to make 34 straight starts — he hadn't started a full season since 2016 — he hasn't been nearly as dominant as he was in Washington. Granted, he dealt with an ankle injury through most of 2023 and an abdomen injury hindered his performance the year prior, but he was still able to play relatively well.
In fact, the former Iowa Hawkeye gave up just two sacks and 15 total pressures on 710 pass-blocking snaps last year. When you take into account that he's been a veteran presence in the locker room, it's easy to see why the team's brass chose to keep him around. They could've easily moved on from Scherff and created $9 million in cap space but instead restructured his deal to ensure his return. That said, his future beyond 2024 isn't guaranteed.
Scherff will be 33 next year and the Jags may be better off going in a different direction. He probably won't demand top-market compensation but it would make sense for them to go younger at the position. Cooper Hodges will likely take on a reserve role in the offseason but if he makes a strong impression in 2024, maybe he will be in the mix for a starting job next year.
If Hodges isn't the answer, the Jaguars can turn to free agency or the draft to look for Scherff's replacement.
Tyson Campbell may not return to the Jaguars in 2025
You have probably heard that NFL stands for Not For Long, as that's not hyperbole. A player can perform at a high level in any given season and find himself out of work a couple years later. Think of Xavien Howard. He earned the distinction of becoming the highest-paid cornerback in the league twice in his career but he's remained unsigned since becoming a free agent in March. It would be one thing if he were on the wrong side of his 30s but he's barely going to turn 31.
It may be harsh but that's the nature of the NFL. Tyson Campbell hasn't suffered a fall from grace as steep as Howard's but you will be hard-pressed to find someone who thinks he's still a top-10 corner. As recently as last offseason, he was dubbed one of the best 100 players in the league. Mind you, not just cornerbacks but players at any position, meaning that Campbell was mentioned in the same breath as running back Christian McCaffrey or quarterback Lamar Jackson.
However, injuries prevented Campbell from taking the next step last year. A second-round pick in 2021, the former Georgia Bulldog got off to a slow start to his NFL career but finished his rookie season strong, registering a team-best two interceptions. He was even better in 2022, tallying three interceptions, and 15 passes defensed while giving up less than 10.0 yards per reception.
Expected to keep improving in 2023, Campbell instead spent most of the season dealing with a hamstring injury. While he wasn't necessarily bad, he wasn't great either. He should be fully healthy in 2024 but he may have trouble claiming his place as one of the top cornerbacks in the league. One reason is that the Jags have a new defensive coordinator in Ryan Nielsen.
Nielsen will run a press-heavy scheme and Cambell is better suited to play zone coverage. But even if he manages to make the adjustment and thrive, the Jags may choose to look for younger alternatives (aka the draft) rather than making a long-term commitment to him.
Never say never, but nobody should bat an eye if Campbell ends up hitting the open market and looking for a payday somewhere else.
Andre Cisco may not return to the Jaguars in 2025
Andre Cisco may be the biggest wild card on this list. Just recently, Antoine Winfield Jr. got a record-setting deal that pays him an annual average of over $20 million. That's the biggest contract a defensive back has gotten in league history but as great as it was to see Winfield break the bank, his contract may not be a sign of things to come.
Months before Winfield got his contract, Kyle Dugger inked a more modest four-year deal worth $58 million. While fellow safeties will next want to get a contract in the range of Winfield's, they could struggle to get it. In fact, before Dugger got paid, the safety market was deflated. Even though salaries for most positions have routinely gone up, the ones for safeties have stalled.
This past offseason alone, Quandre Diggs, Jordan Poyer, Rayshawn Jenkins (remember him?), and even All-Pro Justin Simmons were given the boot. All of them were capable safeties but they were seen as replaceable by their respective teams. This may not be great news for Cisco, who's entering a contract year.
Cisco has managed to stay relatively healthy after entering the draft with medical red flags. He slid to the third round but has turned into a mainstay of the Jaguars' defensive backfield. The former Syracuse Orangeman has logged seven interceptions and 15 passes defensed the past two seasons but he has yet to reach his full potential.
If Cisco manages to have a breakout season — he should under defensive backs coach Kris Richard — he will be in a position to command a premium for his services next offseason. However, the Jaguars may not be inclined to meet his salary demands. If he's not willing to take a "reasonable deal", they may opt to let another team pay him, and look for a more affordable replacement in either the open market or the draft.
Cam Robinson may not return to the Jaguars in 2025
Left tackle Cam Robinson has been the subject of trade chatter throughout the offseason but he remains in Jacksonville. As a matter of fact, head coach Doug Pederson and general manager Trent Baalke have stated that the Alabama product is under contract through 2024, and expect him to be on the team come Week 1.
However, there are a couple reasons why the team's brass may feel prompted to ship Robinson in the upcoming months. For starters, releasing or trading him would create $17 million in space. While the offensive line has been much better when he's in the lineup, Jacksonville may not want to pass up the chance to get that kind of savings.
Furthermore, the Jaguars have a pair of capable left tackles ready to step up in case Robinson leaves. Walker Little gave up just one sack and five total pressures when he filled in for Robinson to start the 2023 season. The coaching staff could also move Anton Harrison, who lined up at right tackle as a rookie, to the left side. It's also worth noting that the Jaguars just drafted Javon Foster, so they wouldn't lack depth at the position.
But if Robinson ultimately returns in 2024, this could be his last season donning the Jaguars uniform. He signed a three-year deal worth $54 million in 2022 but he might not be able to get a similar deal the next time he hits the open market.
Make no mistake, he's as dependable as they come but the front office may not want to pay Robinson top-market money again, especially when you consider that they're about to make a considerable investment in Trebor Lawrence.
Working in Robinson's favor is that the salary cap has gone up, but that doesn't mean his return in 2025 (if he's on the roster next season) is guaranteed.