The Jacksonville Jaguars are poised to have a busy offseason in 2024. Besides having to give outside linebacker Josh Allen a new contract, there will be a handful of players in line for extensions. In particular, a handful of draftees from their 2021 class will be eligible for new deals, and the sooner the Jags lock them up, the less money they'll have to fork out.
While Jacksonville isn't in dire need of cap space, they could make a few moves to have a bit of cushion. Giving new contracts to linebacker Foyesade Oluokun and safety Rayshawn Jenkins would make sense, or in the worst-case scenario, restructure them both.
Also, it would help the Jags to release these four veterans, who could be cap casualties due to the cap figure they're slated to have next year.
4. Zay Jones, WR
The Jaguars became the laughingstock of the NFL for giving wide receiver Zay Jones a three-year deal worth $24 over three years even though he had tallied 800 yards or more in a season just once in his career at the time of the signing.
However, criticism faded once Jones set new career bests for catches and receiving yards in a season in his first year donning the Black and Teal. Unfortunately, he hasn't been able to pick up where he left off in 2022. A knee injury has hindered his production in 2023, limiting him to just eight games and 274 yards on 28 catches.
There's a chance Jones will bounce back next season but the Jaguars could benefit from the extra relief they would get by releasing him. The East Carolina product is slated to have a cap hit of $11.01 million but moving on from him would create $4.4 million in space with $6.5 million in dead money.
Like most players on this list, Jones' production simply doesn't match his price tag. Barring a late surge in 2023, moving on from him next year is a reasonable course of action.
3. Darious Williams, CB
Cornerback Darious Williams is having a Pro Bowl-caliber season, tying his career-best for interceptions with four and registering 19 passes defensed, the most he's had in a year. An undrafted free agent in 2018, Williams spent time with the Baltimore Ravens, before hitting his stride with the Los Angeles Rams.
Williams had somewhat of an underwhelming season in 2021 but still managed to land a three-year deal worth $30 million with the Jags last offseason. Miscast as a nickel early in the 2022 season, he fared much better once he replaced Shaquill Griffin in the boundaries.
Realizing Williams was a much better fit in the perimeter, the coaching staff put him opposite Tyson Campbell to start the 2023 season. Speaking of Campbell, the star cornerback has been slowed down by injuries but Williams has stepped up in his absence.
Campbell should return to form in 2024. Coincidentally, that's the last year of his rookie deal. The Jags will most likely want to get a deal done before he becomes a free agent in 2025 and his price tag goes up. If the Jags find themselves scrambling for cap room, they could cut ties with Williams to free up $10 million with just $500, 000 in dead money.
The downside of parting ways with Williams is that he's become an important cog of the Jaguars' secondary. While sophomore Montaric Brown has made strides this season, he doesn't seem to be ready to step up in Williams' place, so the team's brass could be hesitant to part ways with Williams.
That said, the prospect of creating $10 million in space may be too good to pass up. Then again, the front office has other options, including giving him a new contract and push some of the money to future years.
2. Brandon Scherff, OG
Brandon Scherff solidified his spot as one of the best guards in the NFL during his seven-year stint with the Washington Commanders. A first-round pick in the 2015 draft, Scherff racked up five Pro Bowl designations, along with a First-Team All-Pro designation, in that span. That's why, it didn't seem unreasonable for the Jaguars to give him a three-year deal worth $49.5 million in free agency.
At the time, the Jags needed to fortify the trenches and ensure Trevor Lawrence had the best possible protection up front, something he lacked in his rookie season. By signing Scherff, the team's brass checked off one offseason need. The only concern was that the former Iowa Hawkeye hadn't played a full season since 2016, his sophomore campaign, so there were concerns about his potential availability ahead of the 2022 season.
Scherff put all doubts to rest when he started all 17 games in 2022. The issue is that he dealt with an abdomen injury for most of the season. With an offseason to recover though, the hope was that the veteran guard was going to return to Pro Bowl shape in 2023. However, that hasn't been the case. Granted, he's played better than last season but his salary doesn't match his on-field production.
Right now, Scheff is on pace to give up three fewer sacks and seven fewer pressures than last year. His run blocking has also improved but several guards are currently playing much better than him, and aren't charging nearly as much. Make no mistake, Scherff's leadership has been invaluable but paying a premium for his services because he's a veteran presence doesn't make financial sense.
Asking Scherff for a pay cut doesn't seem like an unreasonable thing to ask, but if he refuses, the Jaguars could release him, and create $9.09 million in space with $14.86 million in dead money.
1. Cam Robinson, LT
Giving Cam Robinson a three-year deal worth $54 million in 2022 was one of the biggest moves Trent Baalke made when he became the general manager. While he took over the front office in 2021, he mostly focused on signing second-tier free agents such as Marvin Jones Jr., Shaquill Griffin, and Rayshawn Jenkins. All three were fine fine players but none got a contract like the one Robinson inked last year.
By giving Robinson a multi-year deal, the Jags sent a message. Deliver and will take care of you. And the Jags most definitely took care of Robinson. While not a Pro Bowl-caliber tackle, he had become a mainstay on the offensive line, and his leadership was invaluable during the 2022 playoff run.
However, Robinson got a four-game suspension to start the 2023 season for violations to the league's performance-enhancing drug policy. The suspension not only voided the guarantees on his contract but it also paved the way for Walker Little to show what he could do at left tackle.
By all accounts, Little's four-game tryout went well but he got bumped to left guard when Robinson returned from his suspension. Back in his familiar spot at left tackle, Robinson gave the offensive line a boost. Unfortunately, he landed on Injured Reserve after suffering a knee injury against the Houston Texans in Week 12. There's a strong chance he'll return in time for the playoffs but his future beyond 2023 is in question.
Robinson is scheduled to make $21.63 million next year but the Jaguars can get $17.7 million in space with just $3.88 million in dead money by either releasing him or trading him. Given the demand at the position, the Jags could net a third-round selection in exchange for Robinson. But if they don't find a trade partner, releasing him also seems like a possible outcome.