It hasn't gotten much attention but the Jacksonville Jaguars aren't in great cap shape to start the offseason. At $11 million (give or take), they have barely enough space to sign their 2024 draft class. Fortunately for them, they can quickly create room by extending a few players and restructuring a few contracts.
That said, the Jaguars cannot just simply hand out new contracts or push the cap into the future. They'll need to be diligent if they want to get relief without affecting their future spending. So what cap decisions will the team's brass have to deal with in 2024? Here are five of the most important ones.
5. Darious Williams was a playmaker in 2023, will the Jaguars release him?
One of the first places the Jags could look at for cap relief is cornerback Darious Williams, who's set to count $11.5 million against the cap in 2024. If the Jags wanted to, they could free up $11 million with just $500,000 in dead money. The issue with taking that road is that Williams was their best corner in 2022, with injuries hampering Tyson Campbell most of the year.
Williams wasn't perfect but he showed an affinity for making big plays. He finished 2023 with a team-best 19 passes defensed and tied for first place in interceptions with four. He may or may not be a good fit for defensive coordinator Ryan Nielsen's system but the Jaguars should give him a chance to prove he deserves to stay.
The Jags could keep Williams around for training camp, and if they think he should stay, they could then give him an extension to push some of his cap hit to future years. Alternatively, they could trade him to take his salary off the books and get a draft pick along the way.
That said, it may not be a great idea to move on from Williams if the Jaguars don't have a replacement in place.
4. Does Brandon Scherff stay or go in 2024?
Wanting to make sure Trevor Lawrence stayed protected, the Jaguars spared no expenses to fortify the trenches in 2022. One of the biggest moves they made was bringing in right guard Brandon Scherff in 2022 to replace long-time fixture A.J. Cann.
Although Scherff arrived in Jacksonville with questions about his availability — he had missed 24 games the prior five seasons — he also had gotten five Pro Bowl nods during his seven-year stint with the Washington Commanders. That's probably why the Jags didn't mind paying top-market money for his services.
Surprisingly, Scheff managed to stay healthy and start every game in his first season with the Jaguars, a feat he hadn't achieved since 2016. He did it again last year. The trouble is that he hasn't been nearly as dominant as he was for the Commanders, which casts doubt about his return for 2024. If the Jaguars think he won't be able to get back on track (he's 32), they could release him and free up $9 million in space. Then again, it won't probably be a cut-and-dry decision.
Scherff has been voted a team captain in back-to-back years. He's also one of the most respected figures in the locker room, so moving on from him could potentially leave a leadership void. However, there's a reason the Jaguars may want to keep him around.
See, Scherff has made 34 consecutive starts the past two seasons but he hasn't been at full strength. In 2022 he dealt with an abdomen injury. Last year, an ankle injury held him back. If the Jaguars think he can remain injury-free (or as close as possible), they may let him play his contract out.
3. What will the Jaguars do with Zay Jones?
The Jaguars raised eyebrows when they gave Zay Jones a three-year deal, $24 million deal in 2022. At the time of the signing, he had registered more than 600 or reached the end zone more than eight times in a season just once. With a big chip on his shoulder, Jones proved he was worth the hefty contract he inked, setting new career highs for catches and receptions in a season.
Heading into the 2023 season, Jones was expected to build off of his first season with the Jaguars. Unfortunately, a PCL injury hampered his production throughout the year, limiting him to just eight games and a paltry 34 receptions for 321 yards with two touchdowns. Had the former East Carolina Pirate not gotten hurt last year, his future in Jacksonville wouldn't be in doubt, but there's a chance he may not be back in 2024.
Jones has shown he can deliver, and he should have enough time to get healthy next season. That said, the Jaguars could get $4.1 million with $6.5 million in space if they let him walk. If they believe he could bounce back, the front office will keep him around. Heck, they could even convert some of his 2024 salary into a signing bonus and push a bit of his cap hit to next year.
An alternative is to give the veteran wideout an extension (and push some of the money to 2025) if they aren't thrilled about looking for wide receiver help in free agency or the draft. And that's the thing, Calvin Ridley is set to hit the open market. If they let him walk and release Jones, they would have to add two receivers in the offseason. That doesn't appear to be a practical course of action.
2. Will the Jaguars cut or trade Cam Robinson this offseason?
One of the biggest sources of breathing room for the Jaguars this offseason will be Cam Robinson. The veteran left tackle inked a three-year deal worth $54 million in 2022. He has a salary of $21.1 million in 2024 but the Jaguars could create $17.2 million if they trade him or release him. Robinson, a second-round pick in 2017, served a four-game suspension to start the season. When he returned the offensive line performed better. That said, the Jaguars have options at the position, so they can afford to move on from him if they choose to.
There won't be many appealing options in free agency for teams in need of help at left tackle, so Jacksonville could get a second or third-round pick in exchange for Robinson. The fact that the Jaguars have Walker Little and Anton Harrison in the fold could incentivize them to move on from Robinson.
Little has previously filled in for Robinson when he's missed time. He's entering the last-year deal of his rookie deal and should get a chance to prove he could be the long-term answer at the position. But if the team's brass isn't sold on Little, they could then plug Anton Harrison at left tackle.
Having played left tackle at Oklahoma, Harrison made the transition to the right side as a rookie. He says he wouldn't mind returning to left tackle and general manager Trent Baalke didn't rule out the switch the last time he met with the local media. The bottom line is that it looks like Robinson is on his way out. The only question is whether he'll get released or traded.
1. Will the Jaguars give Josh Allen the franchise tag or a long-term deal?
The elephant in the room is Josh Allen's contract status. As long as there are no updates, questions will keep surfacing. You could rightfully point out that there's still time to hammer out an extension but fans won't stop being fidgety until he gets a new deal, and rightfully so.
Allen, a first-round pick by the Jaguars in 2019, started his NFL career with a bang, registering 10.5 sacks and making the Pro Bowl as a rookie. However, injuries and other factors — the Urban Meyer debacle was one of them — led him to a dip in production the following years. While he wasn't bad per se, he wasn't nearly as consistent as the Jaguars would've wanted, tallying just 17 sacks from 2021-2023.
While Jacksonville's trust hadn't wavered, they weren't ready to commit to him long-term so they let him play out his rookie contract, hoping he was going to put it all together. He did, logging 17.5 sacks and earning a Pro Bowl berth.
Now, the Jags should be ready to shell out top-market money for Allen and make him one of the highest-paid pass rushers in the league. He's earned it. However, general manager Trent Baalke has yet to initiate contract talks with the star pass rusher. To nobody's surprise, the former Kentucky Wildcat isn't pleased with Baalke's lack of urgency: He wants to get a deal done and stay in Jacksonville long-term.
And all things considered, Baalke and the Jaguars also benefit from giving Allen an extension rather than placing the franchise tag on him. If they tag Allen, his salary will be guaranteed and take up a huge amount of space. But if they sign him to a long-term deal, they would then structure a deal in a way in which he uses up a minimal amount of cap space in the early years. Simply put, everyone wins if Allen gets an extension.