5 Jaguars players who could potentially be cap casualties in 2024

No. 1 Jaguars potential cap casualty in 2024: Brandon Scherff, LG

This might be the trickiest of all the entries on this list. Left guard Brandon Scherff made a name for himself with the Washington Commanders. A first-round pick in the 2015 draft, the former Iowa Hawkeye became a mainstay of the Commanders' offensive trenches. During his seven-year stint, he made five Pro Bowls and earned a First-Team All-Pro Designation. For this reason, the Jags didn't mind giving him a three-year deal worth $49 million when he became a free agent.

Scherff was named team captain in his first season with the Jags and got the distinction again in 2023. However, his on-field performance left a bit to be desired last year. Although he managed to play in all games — a feat he hadn't accomplished since 2016 — he didn't play at the same level he did back in Washington. In defense of Scherff, he dealt with an abdomen injury throughout most of the season and popped up on the Injury Report nearly on a weekly basis.

Now healthy, Scherff has turned the corner and has played at the level the Jaguars expected when they gave him a top-market deal. Barring any injury, he should continue to perform at right guard, but if he regresses, the Jags could decide to move on from him next offseason.

Scherff still has gas left in the tank but if Jacksonville he'll experience a decline next year, they could then release him and free up $9 million in cap space with $14 million in dead money. The downside of moving on from him is that he would leave a massive void at right guard. An alternative would be to give him a contract extension and lessen his cap hit for 2024.

The bottom line is that the Jags are better off keeping him around but if they need to create cap room, releasing him will become a possibility.

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